Final answer:
To find the amount of coal equivalent to the energy released by nuclear processes, set up a proportion using the given information about the heat energy released by burning coal. 3 x 10^4 g (or 30 kg) of coal is equivalent to the energy released from nuclear processes converting 1 g of mass into energy.
Step-by-step explanation:
To calculate the amount of coal equivalent to the energy released by nuclear processes, we need to use the given information about the heat energy released by burning coal.
From the information provided, 1 kg of bituminous coal releases about 3 x 10^7 J of heat energy.
Therefore, to find the amount of coal equivalent to the energy released by nuclear processes (1 g of mass into energy), we can set up a proportion:
1 kg of coal releases 3 x 10^7 J of energy
1 g of coal releases x J of energy
Cross multiplying and solving for x:
x = (1 g / 1 kg) * (3 x 10^7 J) = 3 x 10^4 J
Therefore, the burning of 3 x 10^4 g (or 30 kg) of coal is equivalent to the energy released from nuclear processes converting 1 g of mass into energy.