Final answer:
To find out how much fuel has been burned as energy, subtract the final mass of the fuel from the initial mass. The mass difference indicates the amount of fuel converted to heat. This involves using thermodynamic principles and calculations of heat transfer using the formula Q = mcΔT.
Step-by-step explanation:
To determine how much fuel was burned and converted to heat energy, you subtract the final mass of the fuel/foil from the initial mass. If the initial mass of the fuel was greater, this difference represents the mass that has been combusted and transformed into energy. Using principles of chemistry and physics, specifically thermodynamics, you can also calculate values such as the net heat (Q) and net work (W), and use the first law of thermodynamics (ΔU = Q - W) to find the change in internal energy.
For calculating heat transfer in a substance, the formula Q = mcΔT is used, where Q is the heat transfer, m is the mass, c is the specific heat, and ΔT is the change in temperature. This equation can help estimate energy transfer when a substance, such as fuel, is burned. Experiments like these are crucial for understanding the energy released from combustion and for applications such as determining the environmental impacts of certain chemical reactions.