How Much Waste Thermal Energy Does a 5% Efficient 100W Bulb Produce in an Hour?

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A 100W incandescent bulb, with only 5% efficiency, produces 95J of waste thermal energy in one hour. The calculations initially confused time in hours versus seconds, leading to a misunderstanding of energy output. When calculated correctly, the bulb consumes 360,000J in an hour, resulting in 342,000J of waste if considering the total energy consumed. However, the correct waste energy output should be 95J based on the bulb's efficiency. The discussion highlights a potential error in the textbook answer regarding the waste energy calculation.
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Homework Statement


An incandescent bulb is only 5.0% efficient. How much waste thermal energy is porudced by a 100.0W bulb in 1.0h? (Anwer=95J)

Homework Equations


P = E/T
Efficiency = Eout/Ein x 100%

The Attempt at a Solution


P = E/T
E = PT
= (100)(1)
= 100J

Eff=Eout/Ein
0.95=Eout/100
Eout= 95J

This is the correct answer, but why is time in hours? Shouldn't it be in seconds (1h=3600s) so the equation becomes:

E = PT
= (100)(3600)
= 360000

This is the wrong answer, but I don't understand why time isn't measured in seconds as the SI unit is Seconds for time.
 
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Yes, 100 W = 100 J/s, so in an hour, the total energy used by the bulb should be

E = P*t = (100 J/s)*3600 s = 360,000 J
 
cepheid said:
Yes, 100 W = 100 J/s, so in an hour, the total energy used by the bulb should be

E = P*t = (100 J/s)*3600 s = 360,000 J

I did this but the answer comes out to be:
95 = Eout / 360000 x 100
0.95 = Eout / 360000
Eout = 342000

This would mean 342000J of thermal energy is produced by a 100W bulb
However, this answer is 95J which you only get when you use time in hours. So maybe the answer is wrong at the back of the book.
 
oMovements said:
I did this but the answer comes out to be:
95 = Eout / 360000 x 100
0.95 = Eout / 360000
Eout = 342000

This would mean 342000J of thermal energy is produced by a 100W bulb
However, this answer is 95J which you only get when you use time in hours. So maybe the answer is wrong at the back of the book.

Yeah, maybe. All I know is that a watt is a joule per second.
 
An incandescent bulb is only 5.0% efficient. How much waste thermal energy is porudced by a 100.0W bulb in 1.0h? (Anwer=95J)

I agree the book answer is wrong.

As you say..

A 100W bulb consumes 100J/S or 360,000 J/H

If 95% is wasted then the answer is 0.95 * 360,000 = 342,000 Joules
 
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