EGEE 101H, Homework #1 Unit Conversions January 23, 2014 Due on Thursday, January 30 by electronic submission to the HW1

1 drop box, by 11:59 p.m. Submit, MS Excel, MS Word, or pdf. Scanned copies of handwritten pages are not acceptable. Each question is worth 12.5 pts. 1. Calculate the work done (in Joules) by a 75-kilogram woman to climb to the top of Mount Everest (29,028 feet)? (Conversion factors you need to solve this problem: 1 meter= 3.28 feet, Gravitational Acceleration =9.8 m/sec/sec. Note that work = force x distance, and force = mass x gravitational acceleration) Force = 75 x 9.8 = 735 Everest Height = 29028/3.28 = 8,850 M Work = 735 Kg m per second^2 x 8,850 M = Answer= 6,504,750 J

2. What is the energy equivalent of the work done in Question 1 in slices of pizza? (Conversion factors you need to solve this problem: Energy content of one slice of pizza = 290 Calories and 1 Calorie = 4,184 Joules) Comment briefly on why your answer (which is thermodynamically correct) is not really the right answer. 6,504,750 J/4,184 J = 1,554.67 calories 1,554.67 c / 290 c = Answer = 5.36 slices of pizza Though this answer is mathematically correct, it only takes into account the physical work the body is exerting. It is not taking into account the fact that the body will have to use additional energy in order to maintain homeostasis, nor does it take into account the fact that the walk is entirely uphill and in dangerous conditions. Also, humans cannot turn calories to energy at 100% efficiency. In addition, we must realize that must more energy is consumed walking or running than by tasks such as sleeping. 3. Annual per capita energy consumption in the U.S. is approximately 350 million Btu. Calculate how many pounds of coal would have the equivalent amount of energy (The value of a typical coal is 13,000 Btu/lb). 350,000,000 Btu x (1 pound coal/13,000 Btu) = Answer= 26,923.08 pounds of coal 4. The wattage of a typical color TV is 300 (i.e., it uses 300 watts of electric power). If one kilowatthour of electricity costs 6 cents, how much does it cost to watch TV for 3 hours? (1 kilowatt = 1000 watts). 300 W X 3 = 900 watts x (1 kilowatt/1000 watts) = 9/10 kilowatts 9/10 x 6 cents Answer: 5.4 cents

5. The speed of light is approximately 300,000 kilometers/second, and the distance from the sun to the earth is approximately 150,000,000 kilometers. How long (in minutes) does the solar radiation take to reach the earth? 150,000,000 kM x (1 second/300,000 kM) x (1 minute/60 seconds) = Answer: 8.33 minute

6. An elevator needs a power of 10 kW to run smoothly. Calculate its power in units of horsepower. 1 kW = 1.34 HP x 10 kW = Answer: 13.4 horsepower 7. A typical adult in U.S. converts 2000 Calories of food energy per day. Calculate the average metabolic power of an adult, assuming that the energy is converted evenly throughout the day (24 hours). (You know that this assumption is not true. One converts, for example, much less energy by sleeping than by walking or running). 2000 c / 24 hours = Answer: 83.33 calories/hour, or .023 calories/second 8. Calculate how many kilograms of carbon dioxide (CO2) are produced when one kilogram of natural gas (i.e., methane, CH4) is burnt completely to carbon dioxide and water. CH4 + 2 O2 CO2 + 2H2O Answer: 2.75 kg