Energy to lift a mass, voltage, amps, time, distance confuse

[Barclay]

Homework Statement

A student investigates the efficiency of a small electric motor. He uses a motor to lift it a mass through a constant distance of 1 m. He times how long it takes to lift the masses and makes a record of the potential difference and the current of the motor.

In the book that I am reading there is a table of values. I'll give you values for two of the masses:

Mass lifted = 0.01g; voltage of motor = 2.4V; current in motor = 0.20A; time to lift the mass = 22 seconds

Mass lifted = 0.03g; voltage of motor = 2.4V; current in motor = 0.22A; time to lift the mass = 24.4 seconds

Questions are:
(i) What is the useful work done in Joules
(ii) What is the electrical energy supplied?

Homework Equations

The book says useful work done = mgh

The book does not give a formula for electrical energy supplied but I think it is E = IVt

The Attempt at a Solution

[/B]
(i) For the 0.01g mass, useful work done= mgh = (0.01/1000) x 10 x 1 = 0.0001 JFor the 0.03g mass, useful work done= mgh = (0.03/1000) x 10 x 1 = 0.0003 J

(ii) For the 0.01g mass, electrical energy supplied E = IVt = 0.2 x 2.4 x 22 = 10.56 J

For the 0.03g mass, electrical energy supplied E = IVt = 0.22 x 2.4 x 24.4 = 12.88 JI think there is something wrong here. How can the work done to lift the 0.01g mass be 0.0001 J but the energy supplied be 10.56 J ? Such a large difference. Does the motor just provide too much energy for the task? Is the excess just lost as heat and noise?

The 0.01g is very low weight isn't it. May be the author meant 0.01 kg and that would give 0.1 J useful work done.

What's going on? Are my answers incorrect or is this the way its meant to be.

Please note that this is not homework. I'm just working through a book and there are no answers for this section. So please don't fear that you'll be "giving" me the answers for a homework. I'll be happy to accept straight explanations ... without riddles

Yours gratefully

Barclay

 

[JBA]

How did you know to use 1 meter for the h in your mgh calculation?

 

[Barclay]

The book described the experiment as lifting the mass 1m

He uses a motor to lift it a mass through a constant distance of 1 m

 

[gneill]

That picture that pasted is an error. How do i remove it?

Edit your post, select "More Options". You should see a "Delete" option beside the thumbnail.

 

[Barclay]

Edit your post, select "More Options". You should see a "Delete" option beside the thumbnail.

Thanks for that

 

[billy_joule]

All your working is correct.

I think there is something wrong here. How can the work done to lift the 0.01g mass be 0.0001 J but the energy supplied be 10.56 J ? Such a large difference. Does the motor just provide too much energy for the task? Is the excess just lost as heat and noise?

For small DC motor motors the rule of thumb efficiency is often stated as 50% (ie half of the electrical input energy is lost as heat).
And that is the peak efficiency, when the motor is operating away from that point, at a different RPM, the efficiency is even lower. When the motor is stalled or free running (no load) then efficiency is 0% as no work is being done.

With that said, I think It may be a typo.

 

[JBA]

The book described the experiment as lifting the mass 1m

Sorry, I initially read right past that. (that is one problem created by having to scroll back and forth when evaluating a lower post)

With that resolved, I don't see any errors in your calculations; so unless the two questions are meant to be totally independent of each other, I am as confused by the results as you are.

 

[Barclay]

All your working is correct.

That's a relief.

I am as confused by the results as you are

I've finally met someone on the forum who is confused. I thought I was the only one.

So the book have messed up somewhere I think