Energy Unit Converter
Convert energy units including Joules, kWh, Calories, and BTUs. Features scientific notation support and real-world context for thermodynamics and electrical engineering.
About
Energy manifests in various forms - mechanical, thermal, and electrical - each with distinct units rooted in different scientific disciplines. This utility bridges these domains, providing high-precision conversions between Joules (J), Kilowatt-hours (kWh), British Thermal Units (BTU), and Calories (cal). Precision is paramount in engineering applications where rounding errors can lead to significant thermal management discrepancies.
Unlike standard converters, this tool provides contextual benchmarks. Understanding that 100 kcal is not just a number but equivalent to the chemical energy in a medium apple aids in visualizing the magnitude of energy transfer in biological and mechanical systems.
Formulas
All conversions use the Joule as the base reference unit. The transformation logic is:
For example, converting kWh to BTUs involves normalizing kWh to Joules (× 3.6e6) and then dividing by the Joule-per-BTU factor (~1055).
Reference Data
| Unit | Symbol | Value in Joules (J) | Common Use |
|---|---|---|---|
| Joule | J | 1 | SI Standard, Mechanics |
| Kilowatt-hour | kWh | 3.6 × 106 | Electricity Billing |
| Thermochemical Calorie | calth | 4.184 | Chemistry, Thermodynamics |
| British Thermal Unit | BTU | 1055.06 | HVAC, Heating Power |
| Electronvolt | eV | 1.602 × 10-19 | Atomic Physics |
| Foot-pound | ft⋅lb | 1.3558 | Imperial Mechanics |