Question

The heaviest hailstone on record is 1.02 kg. Let's assume the hailstone at 0.0°C falls from an altitude of 3,000 m and undergoes a completely inelastic collision with the earth. If all of the potential energy goes into the ice, how many grams of the hailstone would melt?

Answer 1

Heat generated from potential energy will be:

Q = m*g*h

given, m = mass of hailstone = 1.02 kg

g = surface gravity = 9.81 m/s^2

h = altitude of hailstone = 3000 m

So,

Q = m*g*h = 1.02*9.81*3000

Q = 30018.6 J

Now, Let, 'M' mass of ice will melt.

heat required to melt ice will be:

Qm = M*Lf

here, Lf = latent heat of fusion = 3.33*10^5 J/kg

So,

Qm = Q

M*Lf = Q

M = Q/Lf = 30018.6/(3.33*10^5)

M = 0.09 kg

M = 90 grams = Amount of ice melt.

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