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Caloric Value Definition

The caloric value is the heat or thermal units released when an item is burned. Every object that burns has a caloric value, or calories. For example, cardboard has a caloric value dependent upon how much is burned.

  1. What Is a Calorie?

    • A calorie is an amount of energy that will raise the temperature of 1 kilogram of water by 1 degree Celsius at 1 atmosphere of pressure.

    Significance

    • The caloric value of a substance essentially is how much energy it contains and how much energy can be used from that substance. Substances of higher caloric value are better energy sources.

    Misconceptions

    • In the Caloric Theory, heat originally was was described as a fluid, called caloric, that flowed from hotter to colder substances. This theory has been proved wrong and now is obsolete.

    Considerations

    • The caloric value of a substance will change under greater or lesser atmospheric pressure. It is important to remember to keep experiments at room temperature (68 degrees F) and in calm air conditions.

    Fun Facts

    • Fidgeting can burn about 350 calories a day. When Takeru Kobayashi placed second in the 2007 Hot Dog Eating Championships, he consumed more than 16,000 calories in one sitting.

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