Assume that all of the chemical energy available by burning

Assume that all of the chemical energy available by burning gasoline can be converted into increasing the potential energy of a 2017 Harley Davidson Super Low 1200T motorcycle (and the 100 kg redneck that is riding it) in the Earth’s gravitational field. Take the enthalpy of combustion of iso-octane as the chemical energy, and determine the altitude to which the energy in a full tank of gas could propel this bit of man and machine.

Solution

specifications required for us of a 2017 Harley Davidson Super Low 1200T motorcycle

fuel tank capacity v = 17.034 litres

mass of the bike = 272 kg

calorific value of iso octane fuel = 44.42 MJ/kg

density of iso octane fuel = 0.75kg/lit

total mass of fuel in tank mf = volume of tank * density of fuel

= 17.034 * 0.75

mf = 12.77 kg

total mass m= mass of rider + mass of bike

= 100 + 272 = 372 kg

given total energy is used to increase potential energy

chemical energy of fuel = potential energy used to raise bike with rider by height h

mf*cv = m*g*h

12.77* 44.42 * 10⁶ J = 272 * 9.81* h

h= 212676 m

h= 212 km

the altitude to which the energy in a full tank of gas could propel this bit of man and machine (h) = 212km or 212676m