Calculating Mass of a Car with KE of 1*10^6 J

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Homework Help Overview

The problem involves calculating the mass of a car given its kinetic energy of 1*10^6 J and a speed of 25 km/h. The discussion centers around understanding the relationship between kinetic energy, mass, and velocity.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Conceptual clarification, Mathematical reasoning, Assumption checking

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants discuss the meaning of the kinetic energy value and whether it needs further breakdown. Questions arise about the relationship between mass, velocity, and energy. Some participants express confusion regarding the calculations and the implications of the results.

Discussion Status

There are multiple interpretations being explored regarding the calculations of mass based on kinetic energy. Some participants have attempted calculations, while others have pointed out potential errors or misunderstandings. Guidance has been offered on unit conversions and the application of the kinetic energy formula.

Contextual Notes

Participants note the importance of converting units from km/h to m/s for accurate calculations. There is also mention of the surprising results obtained from the calculations, leading to further questioning of the assumptions made in the problem setup.

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O.K . What is 1*10(6power)J mean. Do I further need to break this down in order to work the problem.
Problem: A car travleling 25 km/hour has Kinetic energy of 1*10(6power)J.
What is the mass of the car?
I've converted k/h to m/s
 
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Lovely said:
O.K . What is 1*10(6power)J mean. Do I further need to break this down in order to work the problem.
Problem: A car travleling 25 km/hour has Kinetic energy of 1*10(6power)J.
What is the mass of the car?
I've converted k/h to m/s

Do you know what mass is in terms of velocity and energy?

Doug
 
Mathechyst said:
Do you know what mass is in terms of velocity and energy?

Doug
If I'm looking for mass am I suppose to know?
 
Lovely said:
If I'm looking for mass am I suppose to know?
No I do not know what mass is in terms of velocity and energy
 
KE=\frac{1}{2}mv^2. So, if KE = 10^6, and v=25km/h or ~6.9m/s...
10000000/.5(6.9)^2=416666kg? Thats almost 300X the average mass of a car[/color]

Edited: Oops on Calculations, Thanks Mathechyst
 
Last edited:
DirtyDan said:
KE=\frac{1}{2}mv^2. So, if KE = 10^6, and v=25...
10000000/(312.5)=3200kg[/color]

It doesn't look like you accounted for the fact that the velocity is given in km/hr.
 
Yeah, I've been editing it lol.. But now look, I checked it a couple of times. Is it meant to come out with non-sensical numbers?
 
DirtyDan said:
Yeah, I've been editing it lol.. But now look, I checked it a couple of times. Is it meant to come out with non-sensical numbers?

Since we're giving out the answer, we should show how it is solved:
<br /> m=\frac{2K}{v^2}=\frac{2\cdot1\cdot10^6 kg\cdot{m^2}}{s^2}\cdot\frac{hr^2}{25^2 km^2}\cdot\frac{3600^2 s^2}{hr^2}\cdot\frac{km^2}{1000^2 m^2}=\frac{2\cdot3600^2}{25^2}kg=41472kg<br />
Hmm. A 45.6 ton car. Still, it looks right to me. Let's do a back of the envelope calculation to see what we come up with. Suppose we have a 1000 kg (2200 lb) car going 25 km/hr.

<br /> \frac{mv^2}{2}=\frac{1000kg}{1}\cdot\frac{25^2 km^2}{hr^2}\cdot\frac{1000^2 m^2}{km^2}\cdot\frac{hr^2}{3600^2 s^2}=\frac{1000\cdot25^2\cdot1000^2 kg\cdot{m^2}}{s^2}=48225.3J<br />

Yes, I would say a million joules at 25km/hr is a bit much.

Doug
 
Last edited:
Mathechyst said:
Since we're giving out the answer, we should show how it is solved:
<br /> m=\frac{2K}{v^2}=\frac{2\cdot1\cdot10^6 kg\cdot{m^2}}{s^2}\cdot\frac{hr^2}{25^2 km^2}\cdot\frac{3600^2 s^2}{hr^2}\cdot\frac{km^2}{1000^2 m^2}=\frac{2\cdot3600^2}{25^2}kg=41472kg<br />
Hmm. A 9\frac{1}{2} ton car. Still, it looks right to me.

Doug
O.K Mathechyst I got completed lost. I didn't see were you converted k/m into m/s. I'm sorry but i guess I'm missing the whole concept
 
  • #10
Lovely said:
O.K Mathechyst I got completed lost. I didn't see were you converted k/m into m/s. I'm sorry but i guess I'm missing the whole concept

I find it easier to include the units conversion along with the rest of the solution. It's just a matter of multiplying by 1. For example, to convert km/hr to km/s you multiply the km/hr by the number of hours in a second, namely 1/3600.

<br /> \frac{25 km}{hr}\cdot\frac{hr}{3600 s}=\frac{25 km}{3600 s}=\frac{1 km}{144 s}<br />

Notice how the hr units cancel? That's what you want to do. Cancel out the units you don't want and replace them with the units you do want. Now to convert km/s to m/s you just multiply km/s by the number of meters in a kilometer, so:

<br /> \frac{1 km}{144 s}\cdot\frac{1000 m}{km}=\frac{1000 m}{144 s}=6.94\frac{m}{s}<br />

See how the km[/tex] units cancelled?<br /> <br /> Doug
 
  • #11
Mathechyst said:
I find it easier to include the units conversion along with the rest of the solution. It's just a matter of multiplying by 1. For example, to convert km/hr to km/s you multiply the km/hr by the number of hours in a second, namely 1/3600.

<br /> \frac{25 km}{hr}\cdot\frac{hr}{3600 s}=\frac{25 km}{3600 s}=\frac{1 km}{144 s}<br />

Notice how the hr units cancel? That's what you want to do. Cancel out the units you don't want and replace them with the units you do want. Now to convert km/s to m/s you just multiply km/s by the number of meters in a kilometer, so:

<br /> \frac{1 km}{144 s}\cdot\frac{1000 m}{km}=\frac{1000 m}{144 s}=6.94\frac{m}{s}<br />

See how the km[/tex] units cancelled?<br /> <br /> Doug
Thanks for the help. I have completed the activity. I appreciate you.<br /> <img src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/joypixels/assets/8.0/png/unicode/64/1f642.png" class="smilie smilie--emoji" loading="lazy" width="64" height="64" alt=":smile:" title="Smile :smile:" data-smilie="1"data-shortname=":smile:" />
 

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