Energy content of gasoline and hydrogen comparative math question

In summary, the conversation discusses calculating the energy content of a typical car gas tank, which holds 15 gallons. Part A asks for the energy content of this much gasoline, while Part B compares the energy content of 15 gallons of hydrogen gas to gasoline. The approach involves finding the heat of combustion of gasoline, which can be calculated using the carbon content per gallon and the known relationship between CO2 mass and energy. By connecting the ratios of gasoline volume to carbon mass, carbon mass to CO2 mass, and CO2 mass to energy, the energy content of 1 gallon of gasoline can be determined. The answer in the back of the book for Part A is 2.2 billion J.
  • #36
haruspex said:
Yes. So you have, for burning gasoline:
  • 12 atomic masses C corresponds to 44 atomic masses CO2
  • 70g CO2 corresponds to 1MJ energy
  • 1 gallon gasoline corresponds to 36,315 g C
So how many J energy correspond to 1 gallon gasoline?

This is incorrect. According to the attachment in Post #4, 1 gallon of gasoline has a carbon content of 2421 g, not 36,315 g. The latter figure is for 15 gallons of gasoline.
 
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  • #37
SteamKing said:
This is incorrect. According to the attachment in Post #4, 1 gallon of gasoline has a carbon content of 2421 g, not 36,315 g. The latter figure is for 15 gallons of gasoline.
Well spotted - thanks. But fortunately courtneywetts used the right ratio later.
 

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