A coal-burning power plant generates electrical power at a rate of 650 megawatts (MW), or 6.50 * 108 J/s. The plant has an overall efficiency of 38% for the conversion of heat to electricity. Given this efficiency, how much heat energy in joules is produced in one year of operation?

Energy produce in one year = 20.49 x 10¹⁶ J/year

Explanation:

Given that

Plant produce 6.50 * 10⁸ J/s of energy.

It produce 6.50 * 10⁸ J in 1 s.

We know that

1 year = 365 days

1 days = 24 hr

1 hr = 3600 s

1 year = 365 x 24 x 3600 s

1 year = 31536000 s

So energy produce in 1 year = 31536000 x 6.50 * 10⁸ J/year

Energy produce in one year = 204984 x 10¹² J/year

Energy produce in one year = 20.49 x 10¹⁶ J/year