Question

A fruit-and-oatmeal bar contains 142 nutritional Calories. Convert this energy to calories.

Short answer

The energy in the fruit-and-oatmeal bar is equal to 142,000 calories.

Step-by-step solution

Identify the given energy in nutritional Calories

Given energy in nutritional Calories (kcal) is 142 kcal.

Use the conversion factor

Now, we will use the conversion factor between nutritional Calories and calories: 1 kcal = 1000 cal

Convert 142 nutritional Calories to calories

Following Step 2, simply multiply the given energy in nutritional Calories by 1000 to get the energy in calories: \(E_{cal} = E_{kcal} \times 1000\) \(E_{cal} = 142 \: kcal \times 1000\) \(E_{cal} = 142,000\:cal\) The energy in the fruit-and-oatmeal bar is equal to 142,000 calories.

Key concepts

Understanding Nutritional Calories

Nutritional Calories are a measure of energy that we typically see on food labels and nutritional information. Although the term "nutritional Calories" often appears on these labels, it's important to note that it is synonymous with "kilocalories" or "kcal." This means when you see a food item that has 142 nutritional Calories, it actually contains 142 kilocalories. This is an important distinction, as the energy value you are consuming is in the thousands of calories when accounted in scientific terms.

• 1 nutritional Calorie = 1 kilocalorie (kcal).
• Also equals 1000 scientific calories (cal).

This is why the term "nutritional Calories" is often capitalized to suggest a larger quantity than the calorie you might measure in a chemistry lab.

What Is a Calorie?

A calorie is a unit of measurement for energy. In scientific terms, it is the amount of energy required to raise the temperature of 1 gram of water by 1 degree Celsius. Calorie, in lowercase, stands for the small unit of energy employed in chemistry and physics. The confusion often arises because in the context of nutrition and dieting, the term "calorie" refers to them in units of 1,000.Thus, 1 kilocalorie (kcal) equals 1,000 scientific calories (cal).

• 1 cal = energy to heat 1g of water by 1°C.
• Commonly used in science as a smaller unit.

In practical terms, when calculating the energy of foods, you'll generally need to remember the scale differences for accuracy.

The Process of Energy Conversion

Energy conversion is the process of changing one form of energy into another— in this case, converting nutritional Calories into calories. In terms of food, calorie conversion helps us understand how much energy food can provide. The conversion arises due to differences in measurements. To convert nutritional Calories into calories, you multiply by 1,000 since: \[ E_{cal} = E_{kcal} \times 1000 \]For example, with the fruit-and-oatmeal bar having 142 kcal, the conversion would be: \[ 142 \times 1000 = 142,000 \, cal \] This demonstrates how much energy, in scientific calories, is present in food. Thus, making energy conversion crucial in understanding food energy content.

Understanding Kilocalories

Kilocalories represent a specific fraction of energy and are a staple in the nutritional labels found in our daily foods. They account for the energy that our body can obtain from food consumption. While both kilocalories and nutritional Calories refer to the same amount of energy, 1,000 calories each, the term kilocalorie often appears in dietary and nutritional science.

• Kilocalorie (kcal) is equivalent to 1,000 scientific calories.
• Usually mirrored as Calories (uppercase C) on labels.

When you see kilocalories on labels, know these are the same units referred to as "Calories" in nutritional contexts. It standardizes food energy measurement for consumers.