Calculating the Cost of Heating Water for a 10 Minute Shower

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around calculating the cost of heating water for a 10-minute shower using natural gas. Participants explore the necessary steps and calculations involved, including the volume of water used, the temperature change required, and the cost implications based on the price of natural gas.

Discussion Character

  • Homework-related
  • Mathematical reasoning

Main Points Raised

  • One participant presents the problem, specifying the parameters such as water flow rate, temperatures, and cost of natural gas.
  • Another participant emphasizes the need for the original poster to attempt solving the problem independently before seeking help.
  • A repeated post reiterates the problem details, suggesting the use of a structured approach to solve it.
  • One participant expresses uncertainty about how to start solving the problem and requests guidance on initial steps.
  • Another participant notes that such questions are often contextual, implying that knowledge from a related lecture might be necessary to approach the problem effectively. They outline a general method involving calculations of water usage, heat required, gas needed, and cost.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

There is no consensus on how to approach the problem, with some participants urging independent effort while others provide hints on potential methods. The discussion remains unresolved regarding the specific steps to take.

Contextual Notes

Participants have not clarified assumptions regarding the efficiency of gas heating or the specific method expected for the calculations. There is also ambiguity about the relevance of prior lectures to the problem-solving process.

Who May Find This Useful

Students or individuals interested in practical applications of thermodynamics, cost calculations, and energy efficiency in everyday scenarios may find this discussion relevant.

kkcool
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If you have a 10 min shower using hot water at a rate of 10L/min, how many dollars does it cost to heat the water using natural gas if hte price of natural gas is $9.00 per GJ? Assume the T of the hot water is 45 C and the T of the cold water that needs to be heated is 10 C. Heat capacity of water = 4.184 J g^-1 C^-1, and density of water = 1.00 g/mL.

Any help will be greatly appreciated !
 
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kkcool said:
If you have a 10 min shower using hot water at a rate of 10L/min, how many dollars does it cost to heat the water using natural gas if hte price of natural gas is $9.00 per GJ? Assume the T of the hot water is 45 C and the T of the cold water that needs to be heated is 10 C. Heat capacity of water = 4.184 J g^-1 C^-1, and density of water = 1.00 g/mL.

Any help will be greatly appreciated !
You need to use the template and show what you have done to solve the problem.
 
I don't even know how to begin to solve the problem. Can you give pointers on how to start?
 
Such questions are asked in some context - that is, there was a lecture on something and now you should use information from that lecture. Question can be solved in many ways, but most likely you are expected to use one of them - we have no idea which one, so our hints can be off. Basically you have to calculate how much water you use during shower, how much heat is needed for the temperature change, how much gas is needed to produce the heat, how much does the gas cost.
 

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