I have a problem here that has water at the top of a 50 m waterfall at 10 degrees celsius. The problem asks for the maximum temperature the water can be at the bottom. The answer is greater than 10 degrees, does anyone know how the heck this is possible?
2007-02-11 05:04:24 · 3 answers · asked by snoboarder2k6 3 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Physics
As the water falls from the waterfall, potential energy is converted to kinetic energy. The change in total energy is equal to heat plus work (change in potential energy). Since kinetic energy is at its maximum prior to hitting the bottom and temperature is proportional to kinetic energy, the temperature at the bottom will be greater than 10 degrees C.
2007-02-11 05:18:59 · answer #1 · answered by Philippe 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The energy of the water falling gets turned into heat when the water smashes at the bottom of the water fall.
Try rubbing your hands to gether they will get hotter, same thing. Or smashing your hands together also.
The Mechanical energy gets turned into heat by making the molecules bounce around in all directions after the collision.
2007-02-11 13:14:02 · answer #2 · answered by brandontremain 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
total energy input to a system = increase in internal energy+ kinetic energy in this case system is "water" work done by gravitational force in between different levels of water
is the energy input to system internal energy means state of atoms or molecules of system which is increase by internal collisions of atom or by air friction (which is nothing but collisions between water atoms and air atoms or molecules.)
and also increase in velocity of each individual atoms ( kinetic energy of system) hence greater than 10 degrees, E2-E1=HEAT INPUT =m *c(t2-t1) E=INTERNAL ENERGY
t=temperature of system
2007-02-11 13:48:03 · answer #3 · answered by rgfmss 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋