Calculating Energy Needed to Fill a 100ft Round Tank with Gasoline

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Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around calculating the energy required to fill a 100-foot diameter round tank with gasoline, focusing on the weight of the gasoline and the energy involved in the process. The problem is framed in terms of potential energy and involves concepts from physics and calculus.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Conceptual clarification, Mathematical reasoning

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants discuss the setup of the problem, with some attempting to establish an integral for the calculation of energy. Questions arise regarding the necessary physics concepts and the relationship between potential energy and the filling process.

Discussion Status

The discussion is ongoing, with participants sharing their attempts and challenges. Some guidance has been offered regarding the potential energy concept, and there is recognition of the need for a proper setup to evaluate the integral. Multiple interpretations of the problem are being explored.

Contextual Notes

Participants note varying levels of familiarity with physics and calculus, which may be influencing their approaches to the problem. There is mention of the problem being part of a test, adding to the urgency of finding a solution.

mellbee
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This one has everyone stumped. Help ??!

Even went out to the college for help with this one. A round tak is 100 feet in diameter. It is to be filled with gasoline from the BOTTOM. The gasoline weighs 40 lbs per cubic foot. How much ENERGY in ergs will be required to fill the tank ?
 
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Sounds like Homework to me... Please show your attempted solution in order to get help.

Hint: Consider the change in potential energy
 
Not homework, but bonus question on a test that has been driving me up the wall. Will get the answer next week, but it's killing me. Thanks.
 
Well... what have you done so far?
 
Well, I tried to figure out how to set up the intergal, but that was a far as I got. If I could figure out how to set up my integral, I would be able to evaluate easily. I think my problem is that I'm a calc 2 student who hasn't had any physics, and that is why this is stumping me.
 
If you'd had some physics, you'd see that you can solve this without having to explicitly integrate. See the hint in post #2.
 

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