Final answer:
A gallon of gasoline releases about 31,500 kilocalories or 128,400 kilojoules of energy when combusted, enough to perform significant work, like moving a car or powering a home. Comparative fuels like methane require larger quantities to produce the same amount of energy.
Step-by-step explanation:
One gallon of gasoline can release a considerable amount of energy. The energy in gasoline is stored in its chemical bonds, which, when broken, release energy. This energy is then transformed into kinetic energy, which is what propels a car forward when gasoline is used as fuel.
While it may vary, one gallon of gasoline is typically estimated to release about 31,500 kilocalories (128,400 kilojoules) of energy. This amount of energy is enough for daily home electricity use in developed countries or to move a 1000-kg car at 90 km/h. It's significantly larger than the energy obtained from daily adult food intake, ATP hydrolysis reaction or the combustion of fats, proteins, or carbohydrates.
It's also important to note that this amount of energy is significantly higher than what could be generated by an equivalent volume of other fuels. For example, it would take about 269 gallons of gaseous methane at about 1 atm pressure to release the same amount of energy as one gallon of gasoline.
Learn more about Energy in Gasoline