Factoring in both direct and indirect factors, the production of livestock is responsible for
producing approximately 15% of all greenhouse gas emissions across the globe, which has an impact on
global climate change. According to one study, producing 1 kg of beef in the US emits 14.8 kg of CO2
equivalents into the environment. In comparison, 1 gallon of gasoline emits 2.4 kg of CO2 equivalents
when burned. The average midsized car can go 25.8 miles for each gallon of gas. How many miles could
a car drive to produce the same amount of CO2 as is emitted when a quarter-pound hamburger is
produced?
To answer this question, we need to calculate the amount of CO2 emitted when producing a quarter-pound hamburger and compare it to the CO2 emissions from burning one gallon of gasoline.
According to the given information, producing 1 kg of beef emits 14.8 kg of CO2 equivalents. Since a quarter-pound is approximately 0.1134 kg, we can calculate the CO2 emissions for a quarter-pound hamburger as follows:
CO2 emissions for a quarter-pound hamburger = (14.8 kg CO2/kg beef) * (0.1134 kg beef) = 1.68072 kg CO2 equivalents.
Now, let's compare this to the CO2 emissions from burning one gallon of gasoline, which is 2.4 kg of CO2 equivalents.
To determine the number of miles a car can drive to produce the same amount of CO2 as emitted during hamburger production, we need to find the ratio between the CO2 emissions from burning one gallon of gasoline and the CO2 emissions from a quarter-pound hamburger.
Ratio = CO2 emissions from gasoline / CO2 emissions from hamburger
Ratio = (2.4 kg CO2) / (1.68072 kg CO2 equivalents)
By dividing these two values, we can calculate the ratio:
Ratio = 1.4287
This means that for the same amount of CO2 emitted when producing a quarter-pound hamburger, a car would need to drive approximately 1.4287 times the distance it would travel on one gallon of gas.
Since the average midsize car can go 25.8 miles on one gallon of gas, we can multiply this value by the ratio to find the miles a car could drive to produce the same amount of CO2 as emitted during hamburger production:
Miles = 25.8 miles/gallon * 1.4287
By multiplying these values, we can calculate:
Miles = 36.92 miles
Therefore, a car would need to drive approximately 36.92 miles to produce the same amount of CO2 as is emitted when a quarter-pound hamburger is produced.