Convert Ergs to Calories
Convert Ergs (erg) to Calories (cal) instantly and accurately.
Conversion Formula
cal = erg × 2.390057361e-8
About Ergs
An erg is the CGS unit of energy - the work done by one dyne through one centimetre - exactly 10⁻⁷ J. Despite SI adoption, the erg persists in astrophysics: the Sun's luminosity is 3.828 × 10³³ erg/s; gamma-ray burst isotropic energies are quoted in units of 10⁵¹ erg ('one foe'). Surface tension of water is 72.8 dyn/cm; the work to create 1 cm² of new water-air interface is 72.8 erg. Earthquake seismic moment M₀ is in dyn·cm = erg; the 2004 Boxing Day earthquake had M₀ ≈ 10²³ J = 10³⁰ erg. 1 erg = 10⁻⁷ J = 624.15 eV.
About Calories
A calorie (cal) - the thermochemical calorie - is exactly 4.184 J, defined as the heat to raise 1 g of water by 1°C. Standard since 1954. The calorie is the fundamental unit of heat measurement in thermochemistry: glucose combustion releases 669.9 kcal/mol; water vaporisation requires 539.7 cal/g. Bond dissociation energies in quantum chemistry are often quoted in kcal/mol. Note: the dietary Calorie (capital C) on food labels is 1 kcal = 4,184 J - a factor-of-1,000 difference that causes persistent confusion. 1 cal = 4.184 J = 1.163 × 10⁻³ Wh.
Quick Reference Table
| Ergs (erg) | Calories (cal) |
|---|---|
| 1 erg | 2.39 × 10-8 cal |
| 2 erg | 4.78 × 10-8 cal |
| 5 erg | 1.195 × 10-7 cal |
| 10 erg | 2.39 × 10-7 cal |
| 25 erg | 5.975 × 10-7 cal |
| 50 erg | 1.195 × 10-6 cal |
| 100 erg | 2.39 × 10-6 cal |