Final answer:
The charge for 352 therms of natural gas cannot be calculated without the cost per therm. However, we know that 1 therm equals 1.055 × 108 J or 29.3 kWh and that energy used directly is more cost-efficient than energy lost when converting natural gas to electricity with a 40% efficiency.
Step-by-step explanation:
To calculate the charge for using 352 therms of natural gas, we need to know the cost per therm, which isn't provided directly in the problem. However, we can infer some information from the provided data. One therm corresponds to 1.055 × 108 J or 29.3 kWh. If, for example, we compare the cost of directly using natural gas in the house to the cost of obtaining heat through electricity generated by natural gas at a 40% efficiency, we find differences in expenditure due to the conversion efficiency.
Electricity generation and distribution are not 100% efficient; if the efficiency is 40%, then only 40% of the energTy content of the natural gas is actually used when it is converted to electricity. Therefore, if we used the equivalent energy of the natural gas directly within the household, we'd have a larger effective energy usage compared to the electricity generated from the same amount of natural gas.
For an exact charge calculation, this efficiency factor plays a crucial role, as does the actual rate charged per therm or kWh by the utility company. Without that specific rate information, we cannot give an exact dollar amount for the charge for using 352 therms.