Calculating Heat Flow Ratio of Two Water Tanks

AI Thread Summary
The discussion revolves around calculating the heat flow ratio between two water tanks with different temperatures. The initial attempt used a formula involving temperature differences but led to confusion regarding the correct units. Participants clarified that using Celsius is inappropriate for this calculation, and converting temperatures to Kelvin is necessary. After correcting the calculations, the expected ratio of heat flow was identified as 16, highlighting the importance of proper unit conversion. The conversation emphasizes learning from mistakes in applying thermodynamic principles.
5carola5
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Homework Statement


There are two tanks with water, there are standing very close to each other. Tank 1 is having a temperature of 0 degrees and tank 2 is having a temperature of 10 degrees. The heatflow between the two is Q1. Then tank two is getting a temperature of 100 degrees. That heatflow we will call Q2. The question is: By what degree will the ratio Q2/Q1 chance?


Homework Equations



I don't know really...

The Attempt at a Solution



So I used Q=cA(T14-T24). c and A are some constants that are the same for both tanks so cA=C. Then I put the temperatures in the formula making it:
Q1=C*104 and Q2=C*1004 Then deviding them to get: 1004/104=1*104 (the constant C disappears). So my answer would be 1*104 And the answer is supposted to be 16, which sounds much more normal to me. But I have no idea how to get here...

 
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What unit should you be using for T?
 
celcius, sorry forgot to say
 
5carola5 said:
celcius, sorry forgot to say

Is it ok to use Celsius unit in the formula, or does the formula require that you use another unit?
 
I don't really know extally, can try to do it in Kelvin as the last time I did it in celsius... let's see.

then it becomes: (373^4) / (283^4) = 3,018. That's also not alright, so it must be something else. Might be a total differend formula, I really don't know...
 
Did you also convert the 0 oC to Kelvin?
 
aaaah I forgot ^^'
((373^4) - (273^4)) / ((273^4) - (283^4)) = -16,1... Oke thanks a lot ^^" That was pretty stupit of me... But I will not do that wrong again for quite some time :P

thanks again:)
 
We've all learned that lesson the hard way. :biggrin:
 
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