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 × 104 J/g?
Water is flowing at a rate of 3.0 litre/min. The geyser heats the water, raising the temperature from 27oC to 77oC. Initial temperature, T1=27oC Final temperature, T2=77oC Rise in temperature,T=T1−T2=77−27=50oC Heat of combustion =4×104J/g Specific heat of water, C=4.2J/goC Mass of flowing water, m= 3.0 litre/min = 3000 g/min Total heat used, Q=mcT =3000×4.2×50 =6.3×105J/min Rate of consumption =6.3×105/(4×104) = 15.75 g/min.
