- #1
jongood
- 8
- 0
Homework Statement
Horseshoe Falls, one of the Niagara Falls, has a 53 m drop. Consider one kg of water that
falls over the falls. If, upon hitting the bottom of the falls, all of the water’s potential energy
is converted to thermal energy and this heats the fallen water, calculate the increase in the
water’s temperature.
Homework Equations
Ek = ½ m v2
PE = m x g x h
Thermal: change in Eth = m Cp change in T.
The Attempt at a Solution
So I should be calculate the potential energy of 1 kg of water falling 53 m. Then that that number and convert it to thermal energy. Use the thermal energy number to calculate the change in water temperature?
I calculated the potential energy to be 519.4 J.
Convert Joules to BTU=
519.4 joules = 0.492296212 btu
Now to calculate the increase in the water's temperature, I am not sure if that's the whole fall? I don't think that is possible since the amount of water is always changing. Now if they are talking about the increase in temp of that 1 kg of water... then i have no idea...
Am i on the right track? Thanks