Final answer:
Using a standard human power output of 100 W, it would take 40 people to power a 4 kW clothes dryer and 8 million people to replace an 800 MW power plant. The calculations are based on ideal conditions without considering losses or practical issues.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question posed relates to power output by individuals and its application toward electrical generation. Specifically, it asks how many people would be required to generate sufficient power to operate certain electrical appliances and facilities when considering the typical human capacity for generating power.
Calculating Human Power for Electrical Appliances
- (a) To power a 4.00-kW electric clothes dryer, one would require 40 people, as each person can contribute 100 W, and the dryer needs 4.00 kW (4,000 W), therefore 4,000 W / 100 W per person = 40 people.
- (b) To replace a large 800 MW (800,000 kW) electric power plant, it would take 8 million people. Since 1 person can provide 100 W, dividing 800,000,000 W by 100 W per person gives us the total number of people required for this huge task.
These calculations assume a direct conversion of human mechanical energy to electrical energy without loss, which is unrealistic in practical scenarios.