What is the change in internal energy of a car if you put...

What is the change in internal energy of a car if you put 12.0 gal of gasoline into its tank? The energy content of gasoline is $1.3 \times 10^{8} \mathrm{J} / \mathrm{gal} .$ All other factors, such as the car's temperature, are constant.

Key Concepts

Internal Energy

Internal energy is the total energy contained within a system, including all microscopic forms such as kinetic and potential energy of its molecules. In thermodynamics, the change in internal energy reflects how the system’s energy content is altered by processes such as chemical reactions or heat exchange, and it is a key aspect of the first law of thermodynamics.

Energy Density

Energy density is a measure of the amount of energy stored in a substance per unit volume or mass. For fuels like gasoline, the energy density indicates the chemical energy available for use. This concept is crucial when calculating the total energy that can be released during combustion.

Thermodynamic System

A thermodynamic system is a defined part of the universe chosen for analysis, with specified boundaries to separate it from its surroundings. In this context, the car is considered the system, and adding fuel changes the internal energy of this system while external conditions remain constant.

Energy Conversion

Energy conversion refers to the process of transforming energy from one form to another, such as converting the chemical energy in gasoline to internal energy in a car's engine. Understanding energy conversion is essential to evaluate how the energy content of a fuel is harnessed in practical applications.

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