Final answer:
The minimum distance a 55-gallon waste drum must be positioned from the fuels laboratory building is 9.144 meters.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question asks for the minimum distance that a 55-gallon waste drum must be positioned from the fuels laboratory building. To answer this, we need to consider the safety requirements for storing flammable materials. One common guideline is to keep flammable materials at least 30 feet away from buildings.
To determine the minimum distance in meters, we need to convert 30 feet to meters. Since 1 foot is approximately 0.3048 meters, 30 feet is equal to 9.144 meters. Therefore, the drum should be positioned at least 9.144 meters away from the fuels laboratory building.
Given the radius of the waste drum (0.5 m) and its capacity (400 liters), it is worth noting that these details are not directly relevant to calculating the minimum distance from the building. The safety distance is determined based on the properties of the stored materials and the risk of fire or explosion.