Human-Powered Flight Human-powered aircraft require a pilot to pedal, as in a bi

Question

Human-Powered Flight Human-powered aircraft require a pilot to pedal, as in a bicycle, and produce a sustained power output of about 0.30 hp. The Gossamer Albatross flew across the English Channel on June 12, 1979, in 2 h 49 min.

How many Snickers candy bars (280 Cal per bar) would the pilot have to consume to be "fueled up" for the flight? Note: The nutritional calorie, 1 Cal, is equivalent to 1000 calories (1000 cal) as defined in physics. In addition, the conversion factor between calories and joules is as follows: 1Cal = 1000 cal = 1kcal = 4186 J.

Explanation / Answer

P = 0.30HP = 0.30HP(746W/1.00HP) = 224W 2h 49m = 10140 seconds Since power is work divided by time, then work is: W = Pt = 224W(10140s) = 2.3MJ (2.3 x 10^6J) Now we need to know the number of food calories in 2.3MJ: 2.3MJ = 2.3 x 10^6J(1.00cal/4.186J)(1.00Cal/1000cal) = 549Cal # of Snickers bars = 549Cal / 280Cal = 2.0 bars (rounded from 1.96) Hope that helps, good luck!

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