Question

A geyser heats water flowing at the rate of 3.0 litres per minute from 27 °C to 77 °C
If the geyser operates on a gas burner, what is the rate of consumption of the fuel if
its heat of combustion is 4.0 x 10+ J/g?
​

Answer 1

Answer:

Water is flowing at a rate of 3.0 litre/min.

The geyser heats the water, raising the temperature from 27 C to 77

o

C.

Initial temperature, T

1

=27

o

C

Final temperature, T

2

=77

o

C

Rise in temperature,T=T

1

−T

2

=77−27=50

o

C

Heat of combustion =4×10

4

J/g

Specific heat of water, C=4.2J/g

o

C

Mass of flowing water, m= 3.0 litre/min = 3000 g/min

Total heat used, Q=mcT

=3000×4.2×50

=6.3×10

5

J/min

Rate of consumption =6.3×10

5

/(4×10

4

) = 15.75 g/min.