Yahoo Answers is shutting down on May 4th, 2021 (Eastern Time) and beginning April 20th, 2021 (Eastern Time) the Yahoo Answers website will be in read-only mode. There will be no changes to other Yahoo properties or services, or your Yahoo account. You can find more information about the Yahoo Answers shutdown and how to download your data on this help page.

?
Lv 7
? asked in Science & MathematicsEngineering · 1 decade ago

which has the most stored energy? (for my lecture notes)?

A 5kg weight 1m above the floor (PE)

A 45g golf ball travelling at 40 m/s (KE)

A jam doughnut 250kcal (Calories)

A spring compressed 0.1 m by a force of 20kg.

A cup of coffee (black, no sugar) 0.12litres 40 deg above ambient

A Duracell D cell 1.5V 15Amp hours

A bicycle wheel spinning at 10 rps. dia 21cm, mass 0.2kg

I have worked out answers but I don't believe the results - so if someone would be kind enough to check them for me that would be great. I haven't provided the equations or working in case I have one wrong.

Update:

Thanks for your hard work and fast response, Bramble,

mine agree with yours except for:

3: 250kcal *4180J/kcal = 1MJ (one of us is out by *1000) and more interestingly the wheel

7: I = kMr^2 so I = 1*0.2* 0.1*0.1 = 0.002kg m^2 approx

angular speed w= 2*pi*10 = 63 radians /sec

E = 0.5 I w^2 = 0.5 * 0.002 * 63 * 63 = 3.969 J

can you spot my error?

1 Answer

Relevance
  • 1 decade ago
    Favorite Answer

    1) 5 x 9.81 x 1 = 49 J

    2) 0.045 x 40² x ½ = 36 J

    3) 250 kcal = 250 x 4184 = 1046 x 10^6 J

    4) 0.1 x 20 x 9.81 x ½ = 9.8 J

    5) 4184 x 0.12 x 40 = 20 x 10³ J

    6) 1.5 x 15 x 3600 = 81 x 10³ J

    7) 0.2 x 4 x π² x 100 x 0.21² x ½ = 17.4 J

    So the jam doughnut takes it; unless of course the 5 kg weight is composed of jam doughnuts.

    Edit:

    No I can't spot your error but I do see mine:

    3. Obviously I forgot the decimal point in the 1045 - it should read 1.046

    7. I think I have used the diameter where I should have used the radius so I should get 4.35 J. I'm used to bigger bicycle wheels I guess!

    I think your only "mistake" is in approximation, which is of course insignificant in this problem!

    Sorry for any confusion caused.

Still have questions? Get your answers by asking now.