Question

Given that coal used by electric power plants has a heating value of 27.5 million btus metric ton (25 million btus per ton), determine the number of kilograms (and pounds) of coal needed to produce 1 million btus of heat.

Answer 1

Answer:

• 36.4 kg of coal.

• 80 pounds of coal.

Explanation:

Using proportionality constant,

Mass of coal = 1,000,000/27,500,000 btus/metric ton

= 0.0364 metric tons of coal

Mass of coal = 1,000,000/25,000,000 btus/ton

= 0.04 tons of coal.

Converting metric tons to kilogram,

1 metric ton = 1000kg,

0.0364 metric ton;

= 36.4 kg of coal.

Converting tons to pounds,

1 ton = 2000 pounds,

0.04 metric ton;

= 80 pounds of coal.