What is the unit that represents the amount of heat required to raise the temperature of 1 kilogram of water by 1°C?

What is the unit that represents the amount of heat required to raise the temperature of 1 kilogram of water by 1°C?

• A. Calorie
• B. Joule
• C. Watt
• D. Erg

Answer: (A)

In nutrition, the unit used to express the energy needed to raise the temperature of water is the Calorie, which actually refers to a kilocalorie. A kilocalorie is defined as the amount of heat required to raise the temperature of 1 kilogram of water by 1°C. Since 1 kilogram is 1000 grams, this is 1000 times the energy needed to raise 1 gram of water by 1°C. That’s why food energy is labeled in Calories (the kilocalorie). In other words, 1 Calorie (kilocalorie) equals about 4184 joules. Watts measure power, and ergs are much smaller energy units, so they aren’t used for this specific quantity.

In nutrition, the unit used to express the energy needed to raise the temperature of water is the Calorie, which actually refers to a kilocalorie. A kilocalorie is defined as the amount of heat required to raise the temperature of 1 kilogram of water by 1°C. Since 1 kilogram is 1000 grams, this is 1000 times the energy needed to raise 1 gram of water by 1°C. That’s why food energy is labeled in Calories (the kilocalorie). In other words, 1 Calorie (kilocalorie) equals about 4184 joules. Watts measure power, and ergs are much smaller energy units, so they aren’t used for this specific quantity.