This isn't homework as much as I am trying to learn this on my own. I am trying to perform an experiment on solar power.

I measured and recorded the volume (V= 250 mL) and mass (M= 250 g) of water in a cup. I then recorded the initial temperature(32 degrees celcius) of the water.

I covered the cup in plastic and placed in the sun for 10 mins.

I removed the plastic and recorded the final temperature (34.5 degrees celcius) then I record the difference of 2.5 degrees celcius.

I have calculated the cups diameter at 9 cm and the surface area of the water at 3.14 * 4.5 *4.5=63.585.

Now this is where I get totally lost.

I must now determine
energy= _______Calories

Then solar energy flux =_____cal/cm^2min

Then solar energy flux=_____cal/m^2min.

Then total solar output per minute=_____calories.

Can anyone help guide me through arriving at the correct answer?

calories absorved=masswater*1*deltaTemp

= 250*2.5 calories

solar flux= 250*2.5/(63.6*10) cal/cm^2*min
lets see there is 100^2 cm^2 in a m^2
solar flux= 250*2.5*100^2/(63.6*10) cal/m^2 min

solar output= solar flux* area*time

Thank you very much bobpursley! This has been quite the challenge to learn without the benefit of a teacher. I want to run my answers past and see if I have calculated correctly.

energy= 250 * 2.5 = 625 Calories

Then solar energy flux will be 250 *2.5 (625) / 63.6 * 10 (636) cal/cm^2*min

Then solar energy flux is 250*2.5*100^2 (6,250,000) / 63.6*10 (636) cal/m^2min. = 9827.044025

Then total solar output per minute= 9827 * 63.6 * 10= 6,249,972 calories.

This doesnt look right to me.

Sure! I can guide you through the calculation process step by step.

1. Determine energy (in calories):
To calculate the energy transferred to the water, you need to use the specific heat capacity of water. The specific heat capacity of water is approximately 1 calorie per gram per degree Celsius.

Since you measured the mass of the water as 250 grams and the temperature change as 2.5 degrees Celsius, you can calculate the energy transferred as follows:
Energy = mass × specific heat capacity × temperature change
Energy = 250 g × 1 cal/g°C × 2.5°C
Energy = 625 calories

Therefore, the energy transferred to the water is 625 calories.

2. Calculate solar energy flux (in cal/cm^2min):
Solar energy flux is the amount of solar energy reaching a specific area per unit of time. To determine this value, you need to divide the energy transferred (calories) by the surface area of the water (in cm^2) and the time (in minutes).

Solar energy flux = energy transferred / (surface area × time)
Solar energy flux = 625 cal / (63.585 cm^2 × 10 min)
Solar energy flux ≈ 0.98 cal/cm^2min (rounded to two decimal places)

Therefore, the solar energy flux is approximately 0.98 cal/cm^2min.

3. Convert solar energy flux to cal/m^2min:
To convert the solar energy flux from cal/cm^2min to cal/m^2min, you need to multiply by 10,000 because there are 10,000 cm^2 in 1 m^2.

Solar energy flux (cal/m^2min) = solar energy flux (cal/cm^2min) × 10,000
Solar energy flux (cal/m^2min) ≈ 0.98 cal/cm^2min × 10,000
Solar energy flux ≈ 9,800 cal/m^2min

Therefore, the solar energy flux is approximately 9,800 cal/m^2min.

4. Calculate total solar output per minute (in calories):
To determine the total solar output per minute, you need to multiply the solar energy flux (cal/m^2min) by the surface area of the water (in m^2).

Total solar output per minute = solar energy flux × surface area
Total solar output per minute ≈ 9,800 cal/m^2min × 0.0063585 m^2
Total solar output per minute ≈ 62.48 calories

Therefore, the total solar output per minute is approximately 62.48 calories.

I hope this helps you in the experiment you are conducting on solar power. Feel free to ask if you have any more questions!