The heating element of a water heater in an apartment building has a maximum power output of 37 kw. four residents of the building take showers at the same time, and each receives heated water at a volume flow rate of 11x10-5 m3/s. if the water going into the heater has a temperature of 14°c, what is the maximum possible temperature of the hot water that each showering resident receives

maximum possible temperature is 34.088°C

Explanation:

Given data

power output Q = 37 kW

volume flow rate = 11 x 10^-5 m3/s

temperature t = 14°C

to find out

maximum possible temperature T

solution

we can say

total water volume  = 4 residents  × volume flow

total water volume = 4 × 11 x 10^-5  = 44 × 10^-5 m³/s

so we say total water mass = 1000 × volume

total water mass = 1000 kg/m³ ×  44 × 10^-5  

total water mass = 0.44 kg

we know

dQ/dt = (dm/dt)× (S)× ( T - t)

so here we know specific heat of water S = 4.186 joule/gram °C

37 = 0.44 × 4.186 × (T-14)

T = 34.088°C

maximum possible temperature is 34.088°C

hi there!

out of the two, (b) precision would be more reasonable.   however, both a and b could be pretty reasonable.

-awesomerepublic   : )