Question

A snow maker at a resort pumps 130 kg of lake water per minute and sprays it into the air above a ski run. The water droplets freeze in the air and fall to the ground, forming a layer of snow. If all of the water pumped into the air turns to snow, and the snow cools to the ambient air temperature of -7.6°C, how much heat does the snow-making process release each minute? Assume the temperature of the lake water is 19.8°C, and use 2.00x103 J/(kg·C°) for the specific heat capacity of snow.

Answer 1

Q = [m s_water delta T] + m L + [m s_ice delta T]

= [130 * 4180 * (19.8 - 0)] + [130 * 334000] + [130 * 2 * 10³ * (0 - (-7.6))]

= [130 * 4180 * 19.8] + [130 * 334000] + [130 * 2 * 10³ * 7.6)]

= 5.61 * 10⁷ J

= 5.61 * 10⁴ KJ