It is given that,
Water flows at a rate of \(3.0\) litre \(/ min =3 \times 10^{-3} m ^{3} / min\)
Density of water, \(\rho=10^{3} kg / m ^{3}\).
Clearly, mass of water flowing per minute \(=3 \times 10^{-3} \times 10^{3} kg / min =3 kg / min\)
The geyser heats the water, raising the temperature from \(27^{\circ} C\) to \(77^{\circ} C\).
Initial temperature, \(T_{1}=27^{\circ} C\)
Final temperature, \(T_{2}=77^{\circ} C\)
Thus, rise in temperature,
\(\Delta T=T_{2}-T_{1}\)
\(\Delta T=77^{\circ} C -27^{\circ} C \)
\(\Delta T=50^{\circ} C\)
Now, heat of combustion \(=4 \times 10^{4} J / g =4 \times 10^{7} J / kg\)
Specific heat of water \(=4.2 J / g^{\circ} C\)
It is known that total heat used, \(\Delta Q=m c \Delta T\)
\(\Delta Q=3 \times 4.2 \times 10^{3} \times 50 \)
\(\Delta Q=6.3 \times 10^{5} J / min\)
Now, consider \(m kg\) of fuel to be used per minute.
Thus, the heat produced \(=m \times 4 \times 10^{7} J / min\)
However, the heat energy taken by water \(=\) heat produced by fuel
Thus, equating both the sides,
\(\Rightarrow 6.3 \times 10^{5}=m \times 4 \times 10^{7} \)
\(\Rightarrow m=\frac{6.3 \times 10^{5}}{4 \times 10^{4}} \)
\(\Rightarrow m=15.75 g / min\)
Clearly, the rate of consumption of the fuel when its heat of combustion is \(4.0 \times 10^{4} J / g\) supposing the geyser operates on a gas burner is \(15.75 g / min\).