Final answer:
The energy stored in a water tower is its gravitational potential energy, calculated using the water's mass, gravity, and the tower's height. For a tower holding 50,000 gallons at a height of 30 meters, the energy stored is approximately 55.69 megajoules.
Step-by-step explanation:
A water tower functions by using the concept of gravitational potential energy, which is the energy stored in an object as a result of its vertical position or height. The water gains this energy when it is pumped up to the tower and can do work as it comes down. To calculate the energy stored in a water tower, we need to estimate the quantity of water and the height of the tower.
Let's make an estimate with typical values: assume a water tower holds about 50,000 gallons of water (around 189,270 liters) and the height of the tower is 30 meters. The potential energy (PE) can be calculated using the formula PE = mass × gravity × height.
First, convert the volume of water to mass (since 1 liter of water roughly equals 1 kilogram at room temperature), and then multiply it by the acceleration due to gravity on Earth (approximately 9.81 m/s^2) and the height of the tower.
PE = 189,270 kg × 9.81 m/s^2 × 30 m
The energy stored would then be approximately 55.69 megajoules. Therefore, with this information, we can understand how a water tower not only stores water but also stores the energy that can be used to distribute water.