MadSci Network: Physics
Query:

Subject: How do you calculate needed/used power in an energy-to-matter conversion?

Date: Fri Feb 16 21:40:33 2001
Posted by Joseph
Grade level: 10-12 School: homeschool
City: Dearborn State/Province: MI Country: USA
Area of science: Physics
ID: 982377633.Ph
Message:

This question stems from a confusion I have over a formula which I don't 
understand. I have illustrated it below to help explain what my confusion is, 
but it is essentially due to the fact that I don't undestand how to calculate 
needed/used power during an energy-to-organised-matter conversion. 

ILLUSTRATION...

In Star Trek, the food replicators work by converting energy back into matter 
in the form of food. The person using the replicator asks for the food he or 
she wants, and energy is converted directly into the molecules that make up the 
food requested. This is, of course, completely possible theoretically, we just 
have no idea how to do it. 


QUESTION:
Captain Jean-Luc Pickard steps up to the food replicator and asks for a glass 
of Earl Grey tea, hot. The glass and tea combine for a mass of 200 grams. It 
takes 0.5 seconds for the replicator to do its job. Assuming the replicator is 
100% efficient (Scotty designed them, after all!), how much power (in Watts) 
did Captain Pickard use to get his Earl Grey? The speed of light is 3.0 x 108 
m/sec. 


Thanks for any help you can provide!



Re: How do you calculate needed/used power in an energy-to-matter conversion?

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