Problem with units for conduction rate?

Join the discussion
Ask a follow-up here, or get your own question answered by working scientists, mathematicians and engineers — people, not an autocomplete.
Real named experts · corrections over time · the nuance an AI answer skips
1 reply · 3K views
L_landau
Messages
27
Reaction score
0

Homework Statement


Consider the slab shown in Fig. 18-18. Suppose that L 25.0 cm, A 90.0 cm2, and the material is copper. If TH 125 C, TC 10.0 C, and a steady state is reached, find the conduction rate through the slab.

Homework Equations


Pcond = Kc *A*(TH - TC)/L
K = 401 W/m*k

The Attempt at a Solution


I'm converting degrees celsius to kelvin so that it cancels with the kelvin unit from the conductivity K and I'm getting an answer of 5774W but when I look here

http://www.chegg.com/homework-help/questions-and-answers/consider-slab-shown-figure-18-18-suppose-l-290-cm-850-cm2-material-copper-th-103-c-tc-80-c-q43179
and here
http://www.chegg.com/homework-help/questions-and-answers/consider-slab-shown-figure-18-18-suppose-l-250-cm-860-cm2-material-copper-th-124-q4982672

they are leaving the degrees in celsius. What's more, the answer in the back of my book matches these answers! How can an answer in celsius over kelvin make any sense!? Is the answer in the back of the book also wrong?!
 
Last edited:
Physics news on Phys.org
When you subtract the two temperatures, the difference between the two temperatures is the same in the Celsius and Kelvin scales. Thus (per degree Kelvin) and (per degree Celsius) give the same answer.