What Is This Tool?
This converter transforms power units from centiwatt, representing very low electrical power, to kilocalorie (th)/minute, a unit measuring the rate of thermal energy transfer. It is suitable for comparing low electrical power values with thermal energy rates.
How to Use This Tool?
-
Enter the power value in centiwatts you wish to convert
-
Select centiwatt as the source unit and kilocalorie (th)/minute as the target unit
-
Click the convert button to see the equivalent thermal power
-
Review results for comparisons or further calculations
Key Features
-
Converts between centiwatt and kilocalorie (th)/minute power units
-
Supports low-level electrical to thermal power comparisons
-
Browser-based and easy to use
-
Useful in physiology, calorimetry, and thermal engineering
Examples
-
Convert 10 cW to kcal(th)/min yields 0.001434034 kcal(th)/min
-
Convert 50 cW to kcal(th)/min yields 0.00717017 kcal(th)/min
Common Use Cases
-
Assessing power consumption in ultra-low-power electronic devices
-
Comparing metabolic power or exercise energy expenditure in physiology studies
-
Evaluating heat output from small burners or laboratory heaters
-
Analyzing energy transfer rates in calorimetry and food-energy calculations
Tips & Best Practices
-
Ensure power inputs are correctly specified in centiwatts for accurate conversion
-
Use the conversion to relate electrical power to thermal energy outputs carefully
-
Understand the context of power usage, especially when comparing electrical and thermal values
-
Double-check unit selections to avoid conversion errors
Limitations
-
Centiwatt measures electrical power while kilocalorie (th)/minute measures thermal power, so full conversion assumes all electrical power transforms to heat which may not always happen
-
Differences in unit definitions and energy types can affect equivalence accuracy
-
Results may not apply to systems where power conversion efficiency varies
Frequently Asked Questions
-
What does centiwatt measure?
-
A centiwatt quantifies very low electrical power, equal to one hundredth of a watt, useful for low-power electronics and sensor devices.
-
What is kilocalorie (th)/minute used for?
-
Kilocalorie (th)/minute measures thermal power, often applied to human metabolic rates, heat output in small burners, and energy transfer in calorimetry.
-
Can I directly equate centiwatt values to kilocalorie (th)/minute?
-
Direct equivalence assumes complete conversion of electrical power to thermal energy, which might not occur in practice, so caution is advised.
Key Terminology
-
Centiwatt (cW)
-
A unit of power equal to one hundredth of a watt, used to measure very low electrical power levels.
-
Kilocalorie (th)/minute
-
A power unit representing the rate of thermal energy transfer equivalent to one thermochemical kilocalorie per minute.
-
Power
-
The rate at which energy is transferred or converted per unit time.