The following problem is courtesy of Prof. Brian Faulkner

of the Milwaukee School of Engineering who is keen to ask

practical, i.e., "real world," problems (although this one is

arguably more fun than practical).

3. The Z machine at Sandia National Laboratory in Al-

buquerque, New Mexico, is used to perform various

physics experiments. Over the span of about 95 ns

(nanoseconds) it delivers an electromagnetic pulse with

a peak power of 350 TW (terawatts). This peak is more

power than any other generator can produce and, in fact, is more than one-percent of the

power produced by all the generators in the world combined. Let us assume the power varies

linearly from zero up to a peak of 350 TW in 47.5 ns and then varies linearly back to zero

after another 47.5 ns.

(a) How much energy, in joules, is delivered by a single "shot" of the Z machine?

(b) In terms of chemical energy, a kilogram of bacon contains approximately 4700 food

Calories. Which has more energy, a Z-machine shot or a kilogram of bacon? (Food

Calories are actually kilocalories and there are 4184 joules per kilocalorie.)