Specific energy converter for accurate specific energy unit conversions

This specific energy converter tool helps you perform accurate specific energy conversions between 16 units:

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Common specific energy units explained

Learn more about these commonly used specific energy units:

All possible specific energy conversions

Below, we provide an overview of all the specific energy conversions available on this website to help you navigate and utilize our resources efficiently.

Unit	Conversion
Joules per kilogram (J/kg)	Base unit
Kilojoules per kilogram (kJ/kg)	Kilojoules per kilogram to Joules per kilogram \| Joules per kilogram to Kilojoules per kilogram
Watt-hours per kilogram (Wh/kg)	Watt-hours per kilogram to Joules per kilogram \| Joules per kilogram to Watt-hours per kilogram
Calories (international table) per gram (cal/g)	Calories (international table) per gram to Joules per kilogram \| Joules per kilogram to Calories (international table) per gram
Calories (thermochemical) per gram (cal/g)	Calories (thermochemical) per gram to Joules per kilogram \| Joules per kilogram to Calories (thermochemical) per gram
Btus (international table) per pound (Btu/lb)	Btus (international table) per pound to Joules per kilogram \| Joules per kilogram to Btus (international table) per pound
Btus (thermochemical) per pound (Btu/lb)	Btus (thermochemical) per pound to Joules per kilogram \| Joules per kilogram to Btus (thermochemical) per pound
Kilograms per joule (kg/J)	Kilograms per joule to Joules per kilogram \| Joules per kilogram to Kilograms per joule
Kilograms per kilojoule (kg/kJ)	Kilograms per kilojoule to Joules per kilogram \| Joules per kilogram to Kilograms per kilojoule
Grams per calorie (international table) (g/cal)	Grams per calorie (international table) to Joules per kilogram \| Joules per kilogram to Grams per calorie (international table)
Grams per calorie (thermochemical) (g/cal)	Grams per calorie (thermochemical) to Joules per kilogram \| Joules per kilogram to Grams per calorie (thermochemical)
Pounds per btu (international table) (lb/Btu)	Pounds per btu (international table) to Joules per kilogram \| Joules per kilogram to Pounds per btu (international table)
Pounds per btu (thermochemical) (lb/Btu)	Pounds per btu (thermochemical) to Joules per kilogram \| Joules per kilogram to Pounds per btu (thermochemical)
Pounds per horsepower-hour (lb/hph)	Pounds per horsepower-hour to Joules per kilogram \| Joules per kilogram to Pounds per horsepower-hour
Grams per metric horsepower-hour (g/PSh)	Grams per metric horsepower-hour to Joules per kilogram \| Joules per kilogram to Grams per metric horsepower-hour
Grams per kilowatt hour (g/kWh)	Grams per kilowatt hour to Joules per kilogram \| Joules per kilogram to Grams per kilowatt hour

What is Specific Energy?

Specific energy is a physical quantity that represents the amount of energy per unit mass of a substance or system. It is commonly used in physics, engineering, and thermodynamics to describe how much energy is stored or transferred in a material relative to its mass. The concept of specific energy is crucial in fields like aerospace, battery technology, and fuel efficiency analysis.

Common Units to Measure Specific Energy

Specific energy can be measured using various units depending on the context and system of measurement. Below are the most common units:

Joules per kilogram (J/kg): The SI unit for specific energy, widely used in scientific and engineering applications.
Watt-hours per kilogram (Wh/kg): Commonly used in battery technology and energy storage systems.
Calories per gram (cal/g): Used in food science and nutrition to measure the energy content of food.
British thermal units per pound (BTU/lb): A unit used in the Imperial system, often in heating and fuel-related calculations.

Applications

Specific energy plays a vital role in various industries and applications, including:

Batteries: Evaluating the energy density of batteries to determine their efficiency and performance.
Fuel Analysis: Comparing the energy content of different fuels, such as gasoline, diesel, and hydrogen.
Aerospace: Assessing the energy-to-mass ratio of fuels and materials used in spacecraft and aircraft.

FAQs

How is specific energy different from energy density?

Specific energy refers to energy per unit mass, while energy density refers to energy per unit volume. For example, specific energy is used to compare fuels by weight, whereas energy density is used to compare fuels by storage space.

Why is specific energy important in battery technology?

Specific energy determines how much energy a battery can store relative to its weight. Higher specific energy means lighter batteries with the same energy capacity, which is crucial for electric vehicles and portable devices.

What is the specific energy of gasoline?

Gasoline has a specific energy of approximately 44 MJ/kg (megajoules per kilogram), making it one of the most energy-dense fuels available for transportation and power generation.