Energy in Food Calculator
❤️ The human body. Use the Energy in food (calorimetry) formula to find energy per gram of food, mass of water, temperature rise, mass of food burnt: pick the value you want, type the others, and the answer updates as you go.
4.2 J heats 1 g of water by 1 °C. Real results are low: heat escapes and the food doesn’t burn completely.
Pick the ○ next to the value you want to find, fill in the others, and it solves as you type.
What each letter means
| Quantity | Unit |
|---|---|
| Energy per gram of food | J/g |
| Mass of water | g |
| Temperature rise | °C |
| Mass of food burnt | g |
Worked example
Find the energy per gram of food when Mass of water = 20 g, Temperature rise = 40 °C, Mass of food burnt = 0.4 g.
Using E = mwater × 4.2 × Δ Tmfood: Energy per gram of food = 8400 J/g.
Frequently asked questions
What is the formula for Energy in food (calorimetry)?
E = mwater × 4.2 × Δ Tmfood. 4.2 J heats 1 g of water by 1 °C. Real results are low: heat escapes and the food doesn’t burn completely.
What do the letters stand for, and what units are used?
Energy per gram of food in J/g, Mass of water in g, Temperature rise in °C, Mass of food burnt in g.
How do you calculate energy per gram of food?
Put the values into E = mwater × 4.2 × Δ Tmfood. For example, with Mass of water = 20 g, Temperature rise = 40 °C, Mass of food burnt = 0.4 g, energy per gram of food = 8400 J/g.
Can I solve for a different value?
Yes. In the calculator above, pick the circle next to any value (energy per gram of food, mass of water, temperature rise, mass of food burnt) and fill in the others: it rearranges the formula for you.
