Answer
The energy stored in food is usually given in terms of number of calories or Calories. There is some confusion as to the meaning of calorie. Scientists have tried to clear this up in the following way:
1. One calorie is the amount of heat that will raise the temperature of 1 gram of water 1 deg. Celsius. This value is also given as 4.186 (approx. 4.2) joules.
2. The term calorie used by nutritionists is usually written Calorie. In biochemistry and physiology the alternative term kilocalorie is used. The value of the Calorie, or the kilocalorie, is 1000 calories. It is the amount of heat required to raise the temperature of 1kg of water 1 deg. Celsius at standard pressure (760 mm Hg).
Work Step by Step
Other definitions of the calorie (lower case "c" ).
1. A calorie is 1 watt of power dissipated for 1 second
2. A calorie is the amount of energy exerted when a force of one Newton is applied over a distance of 1 meter.
