16 kilojoules (kJ) is equal to approximately 3.8229 calories (cal).
To convert kilojoules to calories, you multiply the kilojoule value by the conversion factor 0.239006. This factor represents how many calories exist in one kilojoule energy unit, the calorie being smaller unit of energy commonly used in nutrition.
Conversion Tool
Result in calories:
Conversion Formula
The conversion formula from kilojoules to calories is:
calories = kilojoules × 0.239006
This works because 1 kilojoule equals approximately 0.239006 calories. Kilojoule and calorie both measure energy, but calorie is smaller. So multiplying by this factor changes the amount from a bigger unit (kJ) to a smaller one (calories).
Example:
Convert 16 kJ to calories:
- Multiply 16 by 0.239006
- 16 × 0.239006 = 3.824096
- Rounded to four decimals = 3.8241 calories
Thus, 16 kJ equals about 3.8241 calories.
Conversion Example
- 10 kJ to calories:
- Multiply 10 by 0.239006
- 10 × 0.239006 = 2.39006
- Result: 2.3901 calories
- 25 kJ to calories:
- Multiply 25 by 0.239006
- 25 × 0.239006 = 5.97515
- Result: 5.9752 calories
- 5.5 kJ to calories:
- Multiply 5.5 by 0.239006
- 5.5 × 0.239006 = 1.314533
- Result: 1.3145 calories
- 0 kJ to calories:
- Multiply 0 by 0.239006
- 0 × 0.239006 = 0
- Result: 0 calories
Conversion Chart
The following table gives kilojoule values from -9.0 to 41.0 and their equivalent calories. You can use it to quickly find the calorie amount for a kilojoule value without calculating each time.
| kJ | Calories | kJ | Calories | kJ | Calories |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| -9.0 | -2.1511 | 7.0 | 1.6730 | 23.0 | 5.4971 |
| -6.0 | -1.4340 | 10.0 | 2.3901 | 26.0 | 6.2142 |
| -3.0 | -0.7170 | 13.0 | 3.1071 | 29.0 | 6.9312 |
| 0.0 | 0 | 16.0 | 3.8241 | 32.0 | 7.6482 |
| 3.0 | 0.7170 | 19.0 | 4.5411 | 35.0 | 8.3652 |
| 6.0 | 1.4340 | 22.0 | 5.2581 | 38.0 | 9.0823 |
| 41.0 | 9.7993 |
Related Conversion Questions
- How many calories are in 16 kilojoules exactly?
- What is the step-by-step to change 16 kJ into calories?
- Is 16 kj more or less energy than 16 calories?
- Can 16 kilojoules be converted to dietary calories?
- What formula do I use to convert 16 kJ to calories?
- How do you calculate the calories from 16 kj in food labels?
- Are 16 kj and 16 cal the same amount of energy?
Conversion Definitions
kj (kilojoule): Kilojoule is a metric unit of energy equal to 1,000 joules. It often used measure energy in physics and nutrition, representing the amount of work done or heat transferred. 1 kJ equals about 0.239 calories, making it a larger unit.
calories: A calorie is a unit of energy, commonly used to express energy content in food. It is the energy needed to raise temperature of 1 gram of water by 1 degree Celsius at standard pressure. The calorie used in nutrition (small calorie) is smaller than the kilojoule.
Conversion FAQs
Why do we multiply kilojoules by 0.239006 to get calories?
Because one kilojoule equals about 0.239006 calories, multiplying converts from the larger unit (kJ) to the smaller (calories). This factor is fixed by physical constants defining energy units, ensuring accurate energy equivalence between units.
Can kilojoules ever be negative when converting to calories?
Negative kilojoule values are uncommon in practical energy measurements, but mathematically, negative kJ converts to negative calories by same factor. Negative values might represent energy loss or deficits in some contexts, but they don’t occur often in nutrition.
Is the conversion exact, or does it change with conditions?
The conversion factor 0.239006 is a defined constant based on energy units, so it doesn’t vary with conditions like temperature or pressure. It’s exact for converting energy amounts between kJ and calories in all practical uses.
What’s the difference between calorie and Calorie in nutrition?
The calorie (cal) is a small unit of energy; the Calorie (with capital C) is actually a kilocalorie (1,000 calories). Nutrition labels often use Calorie to mean kilocalorie, which is about 4.184 kJ, so conversion depends on which calorie type is referenced.
Can I use this conversion for chemical energy or mechanical energy?
Yes, since kilojoule and calorie measure energy in any form, this conversion applies to chemical, mechanical, thermal energy, etc. But be sure to check if calorie refers to small calorie or nutritional Calorie, as that affects values.
