Question

Assume an average car in the united states gets 20 miles per gallon of gasoline, is driven 12,000 miles per year, and weighs 3,500 pounds. further, assume that gasoline weighs 5.9 pounds per gallon and contains 85% carbon by weight. is there any truth to the statement that each car emits its own weight in carbon dioxide each year? support your answer with calculations.

Answer 1

Each car emits approximately 3,009 pounds of carbon dioxide per year.

Step-by-step explanation:

To determine if each car emits its own weight in carbon dioxide each year, we need to calculate the weight of carbon dioxide produced by a car in a year.

Given that the average car in the United States gets 20 miles per gallon of gasoline and is driven 12,000 miles per year, we can calculate the number of gallons used in a year:

12,000 miles / 20 miles per gallon = 600 gallons

Since gasoline weighs 5.9 pounds per gallon, the weight of gasoline consumed in a year is:

600 gallons x 5.9 pounds per gallon = 3,540 pounds

Considering that gasoline contains 85% carbon by weight, the weight of carbon in the consumed gasoline is:

3,540 pounds x 0.85 = 3,009 pounds

The statement that each car emits its own weight in carbon dioxide each year is true because the weight of carbon dioxide produced is the same as the weight of carbon. Therefore, each car emits approximately 3,009 pounds of carbon dioxide per year.