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mee
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Is the gas in a scuba tank or a butane lighter potential or kinetic energy? Not including gravitational effects.
chroot said:First, a butane lighter is not really just pressurized gas; the butane is a liquid at only a moderate pressure.
In a scuba tank, the stored energy is potential energy. The gas particles have velocities which do not depend upon the pressure, only the temperature.
- Warren
mee said:I mean, one could power a generator with pressurized air and not with one that has equalized pressure?
mee said:Then why does air attempt to escape violently from a fully pressurized scuba tank into the atmosphere and not from one that has equalized pressure? I mean, one could power a generator with pressurized air and not with one that has equalized pressure? Sorry if I'm misunderstanding you but I am a novice.
Excellent question! Gas pressurized in a tank contains energy that is available to do mechanical work. If that is your definition of potential energy, then you have it. But such labels do not inform one of the physics. Most of the energy is contained in the kinetic energy of the gas molecules, so you could call it kinetic energy as well. Allowing the gas to expand cools it and uses up some of the molecules' kinetic energy. Here's how that works: Imagine a piston forming one wall of the container. Gas particles bounce off the piston, and their collective effect is a force on the piston. Now allow the piston to be moving. Gas particles hitting the piston will now bounce off with a slightly reduced speed because of the piston motion.mee said:Is the gas in a scuba tank or a butane lighter potential or kinetic energy? Not including gravitational effects.
Potential energy in a gas tank refers to the stored energy in the form of gasoline or other fuel. This energy is not being used at the moment, but has the potential to be converted into kinetic energy to power a vehicle.
Kinetic energy in a gas tank is the energy produced when the potential energy of the fuel is converted into motion. This energy is used to power the vehicle and keep it moving.
Potential and kinetic energy in gas tanks are related in that potential energy is converted into kinetic energy to power the vehicle. The potential energy stored in the gas tank is released and converted into kinetic energy as the fuel is burned and the vehicle moves.
Both potential and kinetic energy are important in a gas tank. Potential energy is necessary to store the fuel and provide the initial energy for the vehicle, while kinetic energy is crucial for keeping the vehicle moving and powering its various functions.
The potential and kinetic energy in a gas tank is a type of mechanical energy, which involves the movement of objects. It is also a form of chemical energy, as the fuel is a chemical compound that is converted into energy. Other forms of energy include thermal energy, electrical energy, and nuclear energy.