How Many Beers Does It Take to Reimburse Energy Expenditure?

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Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around estimating the number of beers needed to reimburse energy expenditure after lifting a keg of beer multiple times. The problem involves concepts from physics related to work, energy, and the relationship between lifting weight and caloric intake.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Conceptual clarification, Mathematical reasoning

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants discuss the calculation of energy expenditure based on lifting a keg and question the accuracy of the initial calculations. There is also a shift to a new problem involving a sled and the effects of friction, where participants explore the forces acting on the sled and the calculation of energy dissipated by friction.

Discussion Status

The discussion is active, with participants confirming calculations and questioning assumptions about forces acting on the sled. Some guidance has been offered regarding the normal force in the context of the sled problem, indicating a productive exploration of the topic.

Contextual Notes

Participants are navigating through two distinct problems, with the second problem introducing complexities related to friction and forces at angles. There is a noted confusion regarding the normal force and its relationship to other forces acting on the sled.

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Homework Statement



A man lifted a full keg of beer (mas 62kg) to a height of about 2m 676 times in 6 hours. Assuming that work was done only as the keg was going up, estimate how many such kegs of beer he would have to drink to reimburse his energy expenditure. (1 L of beer is approximately 1kg and provides about 1.5MJ of energy; in calculation neglect the mass of the empty keg)

Homework Equations



W=\DeltaK

The Attempt at a Solution



So E= F.\Deltax =mgx= 62*9.81*2

For 676 times E=672*62*9.81*2\approx 822313 J.

So the energy he needs to take in is 822313 J which is smaller than 1.5MJ so it means he will need less than 1 L of beer ??

Am I wrong ?
 
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I think you made it right even if you wrote "672" instead of 676 in
For 676 times E=672*62*9.81*2LaTeX Code: \\approx 822313 J.
 
Amusing problem by the way. I think that you did it right, I got that it was 0.5482 L or 0.008842 kegs of beer.
 
My bad. So my approach is right ??

One more problem:

So I am given a 8kg sled is initially at rest on a horizontal road. The coefficient of kinetic friction between the sled an the road is 0.4. The sled is pulled a distanced of 3m by a force of 40 N applied to the sled at an angle of 30 degree.

They ask for the energy dissipated by friction

So I have delta E thermal = F* delta x= 0.4*8*9.81*3

However I got the wrong answer. Is my approach right ?
 
The normal force is not equal to the force of gravity because there is another force acting in the vertical direction---the force being applied to the sled at the 30 degree angle.
 
so will normal force equal force of gravity + Fsin30 ?
 
Actually, subtract I meant. Anyway, I got it. THanks guys.
 

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