Hiker climbs top of mountain; energy conversion problem

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Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around a physics problem involving energy conversion as a hiker climbs a mountain. The problem includes calculations related to mechanical work, efficiency, thermal energy, and fluid replacement during physical exertion.

Discussion Character

  • Mixed

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants explore the efficiency of energy conversion and its implications for the amount of food required for the hike. There are discussions on the calculations for thermal energy and the relationship between energy dissipation and body temperature increase. Some participants question the assumptions made regarding heat exchange and the use of latent heat in calculating water loss.

Discussion Status

The conversation includes various interpretations of the problem, with some participants providing calculations while others challenge assumptions and clarify concepts. There is no explicit consensus, but several productive lines of reasoning are being explored regarding energy conversion and thermal dynamics.

Contextual Notes

Participants are working under the constraints of a homework assignment, which may limit the information available and the methods they can use to solve the problem. There are also concerns about the appropriateness of sharing complete solutions.

pentazoid
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Homework Statement


A 60 kg hiker wishes to climb to the summit of Mt. Ogden , an ascent of 1500 m.

a) Assuming that she is 25 % efficient at converting chemical energy from food into mechanical work, and that essentially all the mechanical work is used to climb vertically , roughly how many bowls of corn flakes(standard serving 1 ounce, 100 kilocalories) should the hiker eat before setting out?

b) As the hiker climbs the mountain , 3-quarters of the energy from the corn flakes is converted to thermal energy. If there were no way to dissipate this energy , how many degrees would her body temeperature increase?

c) In fact, the extra energy does not warm the hiker's body significantly; instead, it goes(mostly) into evaporating water from her skin. How many liters of water should she drink during the hike to replace the lost fluids?(At 298 K, a reasonable temperature toassume , the latent heat of vaporization of water is 580 cal/g, 8 % more than at 373 K)


Homework Equations



mgh=U
Q=delta(T)*C
PV=RT
delta(H)=delta(U)+Pdelta(V)

The Attempt at a Solution



a) mgh=(60)(9.8)(1500) =882000 joules=882 kJ

If she works at 25 % efficiency, I should considered only .75*mgh=662 kJ

4.184 kJ=1 kilocalorie => 662 kJ=158 kilocalories==> 1 .58 ounces or 1.58 bowls of corn flakes

b) delta(H)=Q+W_other. Does no dissipation mean Q=0? If so then delta(T) = 0

c) Q=Lm=(580 cal/g)(18 g)= 10440 g; PV=RT; T=298 K, R=8.31 J/K, P=1.01e5 , why would they give me the latent heat of vaporization when I can just T, R and P to find the volume?
 
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pentazoid said:
a) mgh=(60)(9.8)(1500) =882000 joules=882 kJ
Looks good

If she works at 25 % efficiency, I should considered only .75*mgh=662 kJ
Nope, if the hiker is only 25% efficent you need 100/25 = 4x as much energy.

c) Q=Lm=(580 cal/g)(18 g)= 10440 g; PV=RT; T=298 K, R=8.31 J/K, P=1.01e5 , why would they give me the latent heat of vaporization when I can just T, R and P to find the volume?
You are evaporating liquid water into vapour
 
b - no dissipation measn no heat is lost to the surroundings, all 75% heats her body

c - you need latent heat to calculate amount of water that have to be evaporated to dissipate the heat
 
Borek said:
b - no dissipation measn no heat is lost to the surroundings, all 75% heats her body
c - you need latent heat to calculate amount of water that have to be evaporated to dissipate the heat

so Q=0 and therefore delta(T)=0 since Q=delta(T)*C

What quantity represents the amount of water? Q? I don't need the relation PV=RT, to find V?
 
pentazoid said:
so Q=0 and therefore delta(T)=0 since Q=delta(T)*C

No, Q is not 0.

What quantity represents the amount of water? Q? I don't need the relation PV=RT, to find V?

I think you are on the right track.
 
Borek said:
No, Q is not 0.

Wait, I thought no dissipation means no heat? should I used the fact that delta(U)=f/2*N*k*delta(T)?
 
No dissipation means no heat exchange, that's not the same as no heat produced.
 
Borek said:
No dissipation means no heat exchange, that's not the same as no heat produced.

delta(U)=f/2*N*k*Delta(T),f=5 since hiker is evaporating H2O

delta(U)=.75*mgh

therefore I can now find delta(T), right?
 
You are overcomplicating. You know hikers mass, assume specific heat of water.
 
  • #10
Borek said:
You are overcomplicating. You know hikers mass, assume specific heat of water.

Ahh, of course, delta(U)-Q and I can find delta(T) from this relation since mechaniccal energy goes into 75 % thermal energy
 
  • #11
my attempt

pentazoid said:

Homework Statement


A 60 kg hiker wishes to climb to the summit of Mt. Ogden , an ascent of 1500 m.

a) Assuming that she is 25 % efficient at converting chemical energy from food into mechanical work, and that essentially all the mechanical work is used to climb vertically , roughly how many bowls of corn flakes(standard serving 1 ounce, 100 kilocalories) should the hiker eat before setting out?

a) mgh=(60)(9.8)(1500) =882000 joules=882 kJ

If she works at 25 % efficiency, she must do 4 times the work, or 4*mgh= 3528 kJ

4.184 kJ=1 kilocalorie => 3528 kJ= 843 kilocalories==> 8.43 ounces or 8.43 bowls of corn flakes


pentazoid said:
b) As the hiker climbs the mountain , 3-quarters of the energy from the corn flakes is converted to thermal energy. If there were no way to dissipate this energy , how many degrees would her body temeperature increase?

3/4 energy from the corn flakes is 3*882 = 2646 kJ

It takes 4.186 J to heat 1 kg water 1 degree.

(2646 kJ/60 kg)*1K*kg/4.186kJ = 10.5 degree increase


pentazoid said:
c) In fact, the extra energy does not warm the hiker's body significantly; instead, it goes(mostly) into evaporating water from her skin. How many liters of water should she drink during the hike to replace the lost fluids?(At 298 K, a reasonable temperature to assume, the latent heat of vaporization of water is 580 cal/g, 8 % more than at 373 K)

If 580 cal of energy will evaporate 1 g of water, the thermal energy she gives off 2464 kJ or 632 kcal will evaporate 632/.58 g = 1090 g = 1.09 L of water that she should drink

Or?
 
  • #12
AROD, what you just did was you have done someone else's homerwork. Please don't.
 
Last edited:
  • #13
gotcha, my bad.

physics rocks.
 

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