345 calories (cal) equals approximately 0.000399 kilowatts (kW) when converted. This result comes from converting the energy unit calories into power units kilowatts by considering the time factor and energy equivalences.
Calories measure energy, while kilowatts measure power, which is energy per time. To convert calories to kilowatts, one must convert calories to joules, then divide by the number of seconds to find power in watts, and finally convert watts to kilowatts.
Conversion Tool
Result in kilowatt:
Conversion Formula
To change calories (cal) into kilowatts (kW), first calories must be converted into joules (J) because calories measure energy and kilowatts measure power (energy per second). One calorie equals 4.184 joules. Since kilowatt is 1000 watts and one watt equals one joule per second, calories converted to joules are then divided by time (in seconds) to get watts, then divided by 1000 to get kilowatts.
The formula is:
kW = (cal × 4.184) ÷ (3600 seconds × 1000)
Why 3600? Because 1 hour has 3600 seconds and power is energy per second, so dividing by 3600 converts energy per hour to energy per second.
For example, converting 345 cal:
- 345 cal × 4.184 = 1443.48 joules
- Divide by 3600 seconds = 0.401 joules/second (watts)
- Divide by 1000 = 0.000401 kW
Conversion Example
- Convert 500 cal to kilowatt:
- Multiply 500 by 4.184 to get joules: 2092 J
- Divide 2092 by 3600 seconds = 0.581 watts
- Divide 0.581 by 1000 = 0.000581 kW
- Convert 250 cal to kilowatt:
- 250 × 4.184 = 1046 joules
- 1046 ÷ 3600 = 0.2905 watts
- 0.2905 ÷ 1000 = 0.0002905 kW
- Convert 1000 cal to kilowatt:
- 1000 × 4.184 = 4184 joules
- 4184 ÷ 3600 = 1.162 watts
- 1.162 ÷ 1000 = 0.001162 kW
- Convert 375 cal to kilowatt:
- 375 × 4.184 = 1569 joules
- 1569 ÷ 3600 = 0.436 watts
- 0.436 ÷ 1000 = 0.000436 kW
Conversion Chart
Calories (cal) | Kilowatts (kW) |
---|---|
320.0 | 0.000372 |
325.0 | 0.000378 |
330.0 | 0.000383 |
335.0 | 0.000389 |
340.0 | 0.000394 |
345.0 | 0.000399 |
350.0 | 0.000406 |
355.0 | 0.000412 |
360.0 | 0.000417 |
365.0 | 0.000423 |
370.0 | 0.000429 |
This chart shows how varying calorie values converts to kilowatts by the formula explained earlier. You can use it to quickly estimate power output in kilowatts from given calories without doing the math.
Related Conversion Questions
- How much power in kilowatts does 345 calories represent?
- What is the formula to convert 345 cal to kW for electrical appliances?
- Is 345 calories per hour equal to 0.0004 kilowatts?
- How to convert 345 cal energy into kilowatt units step by step?
- How many kilowatts equals 345 cal burned in one hour?
- Can 345 calories be directly converted into kilowatts without time info?
- Why is converting 345 cal to kilowatt involving division by 3600?
Conversion Definitions
Calorie (cal): A calorie is a unit of energy that measures the amount of heat needed to raise the temperature of one gram of water by one degree Celsius. Though not an SI unit, it’s widely used in food energy and physics. One calorie equals 4.184 joules.
Kilowatt (kW): A kilowatt is a unit of power equal to 1000 watts. Power measures the rate at which energy is used or produced. Kilowatt is commonly used for electrical power and mechanical devices. One watt equals one joule per second, so one kilowatt equals 1000 joules per second.
Conversion FAQs
Why do we divide by 3600 when converting calories to kilowatts?
Calories measure energy, but kilowatts measure power, which is energy per unit time. Since power is joules per second and calories converted to joules represent total energy, dividing by 3600 converts the energy amount per hour into energy per second, matching the watt unit basis.
Can I convert calories directly to kilowatts without time information?
No, because power depends on energy over time. Calories alone show total energy, but without specifying over what time period that energy is used or produced, you cannot calculate power in kilowatts. Time duration is necessary to get power value.
Is the conversion factor always 4.184 for calories to joules?
Yes, the standard conversion is 1 calorie equals 4.184 joules. This value is exact for the “thermodynamic calorie” used in physics and engineering. Different calorie definitions exist, but for conversions related to energy and power, 4.184 is the accepted constant.
Why is the result for 345 cal so small in kilowatts?
The kilowatt is a unit of power, energy per second, and 345 calories converted to joules is a small energy amount. When divided by 3600 seconds and then by 1000, the resulting power value becomes very small, reflecting the low rate of energy flow per second.
Is the conversion formula the same for food calories?
Food calories (kilocalories) are 1000 times larger than the small calorie used here. If you want convert food calories, multiply by 1000 before applying the formula or adjust the conversion accordingly to get accurate power values.