Problem solving for time when average power and total energy is given

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Homework Help Overview

The problem involves calculating the amount of time a student spends walking given her average power expenditure while walking and resting, along with the total energy expended over a day. The subject area relates to energy, power, and time in the context of physics.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Assumption checking, Problem interpretation

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants discuss the relationship between total energy, average power, and time, with one participant attempting to set up an equation based on power and energy. Another participant questions the validity of the calculated time based on the provided values.

Discussion Status

The discussion is ongoing, with participants exploring different interpretations of the problem. There is an attempt to derive a formula to calculate the time spent walking, but concerns have been raised regarding the feasibility of the resulting time value.

Contextual Notes

Participants are working with the constraints of a 24-hour day and the average power values provided, while also addressing the total energy expenditure. There is a noted need to convert time units for clarity.

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Homework Statement


A student spends part of her day walking between classes or for recreation, during which time she expends energy at an average rate of 280 W. The remainder of the day she is sitting in class, studying, or resting; during these activities, she expends energy at an average rate of 120 W.

If she expends a total of 1.3×10^7 J of energy in a 24-hour day, how much of the day did she spend walking?

Knowns:

P1avg=280W
P2avg=120W
E=1.3*10^7J in one day.

Unknowns:

time spent walking.

Homework Equations



P=W/t
Pavg=W2-W1/t2-t1
Pint=dW/dt
1W=1J/s
??

The Attempt at a Solution


If total energy is 1.3*10^7J for the day, then that would mean Ptotal=1.3*10^7/86400s = 150.5W.
If this is the total power for the day how can she spend 280W walking in part of the day?
 
Last edited:
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Total work done = total energy spent = W (let)

let she spends 't' hours time walking, so rest time in class is '24-t' hours.

so, P1.t + P2.(24-t) = W.

solve and get answer.
 
Thanks for the response. But when i plug numbers into that formula it gives me a time that is way too big to be right.
 
covert the time in seconds.
 

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