When deciding upon which fuel source used to power a vechicle, engineers often use the heat released in combustion of differning fuels to make their decision. Would you use the heat released per mole of a hydrocarbon or the heat released per gram of a hydrocarbon to make a decision. State why from an engineering standpoint.
I understand that the fuel has to be carried in a fixed mass tank by the vehicle but I'm not really sure how to answer this question.
When deciding upon which fuel source to use for a vehicle, engineers typically consider the heat released per gram of a hydrocarbon rather than the heat released per mole. This decision is made from an engineering standpoint due to the practical considerations of fuel storage and efficiency.
First, considering the heat released per gram of a hydrocarbon is more practical because the fuel is carried in a fixed mass tank by the vehicle. Therefore, the amount of heat generated per gram of fuel directly determines the energy output or range of the vehicle.
Second, the heat released per mole of a hydrocarbon does not directly account for the mass or volume of the fuel being carried. Different hydrocarbons have different molar masses, so looking at the heat released per mole does not provide an accurate comparison of energy output between different fuels.
Ultimately, from an engineering standpoint, it is more important to consider the heat released per gram of a hydrocarbon when deciding upon a fuel source for a vehicle, as it directly affects the vehicle's range and efficiency.
When deciding which fuel source to use to power a vehicle, engineers often consider the heat released during combustion of different fuels. To determine whether to use the heat released per mole of a hydrocarbon or the heat released per gram of a hydrocarbon, we need to take into account the principle of conservation of mass.
From an engineering standpoint, it is generally more useful to consider the heat released per mole of a hydrocarbon rather than per gram. This is because the number of moles of a substance remains constant regardless of the mass or weight of the substance.
In practical terms, when a certain amount of fuel is burned, it will release a certain amount of heat energy per mole, regardless of the mass of the fuel. By focusing on the heat released per mole, engineers can better compare fuels and make informed decisions about their energy efficiency and overall performance.
Considering heat release per gram could be misleading because it does not take into account the different molecular weights of various hydrocarbons. Some hydrocarbons may have higher molecular weights, which means that the same mass of different hydrocarbons would contain a different number of moles. This can result in an inaccurate comparison of the heat energy content of different fuels.
Therefore, from an engineering standpoint, it is more appropriate to use the heat released per mole of a hydrocarbon when evaluating and comparing fuel sources for vehicles. This allows for a fair and accurate assessment of the energy potential of different fuels, aiding engineers in choosing the most efficient and suitable fuel source for a particular application.