MadSci Network: Physics |
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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