Calculating Energy Needed to Fill a 100ft Round Tank with Gasoline

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SUMMARY

The discussion revolves around calculating the energy required to fill a 100-foot diameter round tank with gasoline, which weighs 40 lbs per cubic foot. The key focus is on understanding the change in potential energy involved in this process. Participants emphasize the importance of setting up the integral correctly to evaluate the energy in ergs. A suggestion is made that prior knowledge of physics can simplify the problem-solving process without the need for explicit integration.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of potential energy concepts
  • Knowledge of calculus, specifically integral calculus
  • Familiarity with units of energy, particularly ergs
  • Basic principles of fluid mechanics
NEXT STEPS
  • Study the principles of potential energy in fluid systems
  • Learn how to set up and evaluate integrals in calculus
  • Research the conversion between different energy units, including ergs
  • Explore fluid mechanics concepts relevant to filling tanks
USEFUL FOR

This discussion is beneficial for students in calculus and physics, particularly those tackling problems involving potential energy and fluid dynamics. It is also useful for educators looking for practical examples to illustrate these concepts.

mellbee
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This one has everyone stumped. Help ??!

Even went out to the college for help with this one. A round tak is 100 feet in diameter. It is to be filled with gasoline from the BOTTOM. The gasoline weighs 40 lbs per cubic foot. How much ENERGY in ergs will be required to fill the tank ?
 
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Sounds like Homework to me... Please show your attempted solution in order to get help.

Hint: Consider the change in potential energy
 
Not homework, but bonus question on a test that has been driving me up the wall. Will get the answer next week, but it's killing me. Thanks.
 
Well... what have you done so far?
 
Well, I tried to figure out how to set up the intergal, but that was a far as I got. If I could figure out how to set up my integral, I would be able to evaluate easily. I think my problem is that I'm a calc 2 student who hasn't had any physics, and that is why this is stumping me.
 
If you'd had some physics, you'd see that you can solve this without having to explicitly integrate. See the hint in post #2.
 

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