Final answer:
The energy dissipated as heat during the braking process is calculated by converting the automobile's mass and speed into metric units, and then using the kinetic energy formula to find the energy in joules, which is then converted into British Thermal Units (Btu).
Step-by-step explanation:
The question asks for the calculation of energy dissipated as heat by the brakes of an automobile with a mass of 5500 lbm (pounds mass), while braking to a stop from a speed of 55 miles per hour. This is a physics problem that deals with the conservation of energy, specifically the conversion of an object's kinetic energy into thermal energy due to friction.
To solve this problem, one must first convert the automobile's mass and speed into metric units, and then calculate the kinetic energy using the formula KE = ½mv², where m is mass in kilograms and v is speed in meters per second. Once the kinetic energy is found, it can be converted from joules to British Thermal Units (Btu) using the conversion factor 1 Btu = 1055 joules, as the energy dissipated will be equal to the initial kinetic energy of the car.
The mass of the automobile, 5500 lbm, is approximately 2495 kg (1 lbm is approximately 0.453592 kg), and the speed of 55 miles per hour is about 24.6 m/s (1 mile per hour is approximately 0.44704 m/s). Using these conversions, one can calculate the kinetic energy and then convert that to Btu. The exact calculations were not provided in the response, but the process to solve the problem is clear.