# Unit conversion W->J

1. Apr 19, 2014

### JJ91

1. The problem statement, all variables and given/known data
Effective Power generation of the plant is 5.43*$10^{7}$W but it will required 9*$10^{16}$J to be created.

Essentially the break-even will after solving equation Energy required/Power Generated however I get results of almost 50 years. Would this be correct?

https://www.wolframalpha.com/input/?i=9E16+Joules+/+5.34E7+Watts

2. Apr 19, 2014

### Staff: Mentor

In your problem statement you say the Effective Power is 5.43 x 107 W, but on the web page calculation you used 5.34 x 107 W. A typo no doubt. But yes, the result can be expected to be in the neighborhood of 50 years.

3. Apr 19, 2014

### D H

Staff Emeritus
Sans the typo gneill noted, this is correct.

Your link stops for me at 1.685×109 J/W. (Perhaps I've overused wolfram alpha?) Sometimes it helps have to cajole wolfram alpha to that it will take the answer a step further.

https://www.wolframalpha.com/input/?i=convert+9E16+Joules+/+5.34E7+Watts+to+years

4. Apr 19, 2014

### JJ91

The conclusion is simple. There is no point to invest a broken penny into this power station.

5. Apr 19, 2014

### Staff: Mentor

Huh? Did you fail to properly state the problem? What is the criterion for your conclusion?

6. Apr 20, 2014

### dauto

I don't like the title of that thread. That problem has nothing to do with unit conversion.