A seemingly impossible problem

1. Mar 8, 2004

blackflub

The water going over Niagara Falls drops 50.6 m. How much warmer is the water at the bottom of the falls thatn it is at the top? Disregard any possible effects of evaporation of water during the fall.

any help would be appreciated and the final answer is .118 C

2. Mar 8, 2004

ShawnD

Energy is conserved:

$$\Delta$$thermal + $$\Delta$$potential = 0

$$mc \Delta T + mgh = 0$$

Factor out the m

$$(4187) \Delta T + (9.8)(-50.6) = 0$$

$$\Delta T = 0.1184$$

3. Mar 8, 2004

blackflub

thanx soo much i guess i thought it was soo hard that i believed myself

4. Mar 8, 2004

frznfire219

the unsettling thing is, what about the kinetic energy?

5. Mar 9, 2004

HallsofIvy

Staff Emeritus
What kinetic energy? The water as it falls, increases speed (so kinetic energy also) as it loses potential energy. However, when it hits the bottom, it stops going down! There will be some small motion of water but it will be so turbulent that eventually it will be converted to heat. In the long run all the energy is converted to heat.

6. Jan 26, 2012

joehoy41

where did u get 4187?

7. Jan 26, 2012

Curious3141

The c term, the specific heat capacity of water in J/(kg.K).

BTW, this thread is nearly 8 years old!