How long will our oil last?
GIVEN that the Earth’s endowment of oil is about 3 trillion barrels AND GIVEN that current production is 85 million barrels a day IF world consumption remains at this level CALCULATE how many years we can continue to use oil. Further work GIVEN that the world population is 6.7 million in 2010 IF world population … Read more
What price do the Swedish Government put on Carbon?
This problem relates to putting a price on emissions. GIVEN that petrol in Sweden costs SEK14.50 at the pump, consumer price. And GIVEN that Carbon dioxide tax is 16% of the price at the pump USING the results of earlier calculations on carbon content of fuel: (click on this link) CALCULATE 1) What is the price … Read more
How much CO2 does one liter of petrol emit?
This problem is interesting as it brings up much of the problematics around burning fossil fuel. GIVEN that: one litre of fuel weighs 0,75 kg GIVEN that: Petrol contains one carbon atom for two hydrogen (roughly) =12 +1+1 CALCULATE The weight(mass) of carbon in one litre of fuel. GIVEN that: The atomic weight of carbon dioxide (CO2) is … Read more
Do the math on Climate with the movie
Here is a chance for every science and maths teacher to connect their subject with what is going on. Now that concentrations topped 400ppm the need for schoolchildren to understand what faces them is ever more urgent! See our list of problems around climate here.
Visualising the green economy
I was thinking the other day as I drove to the shops to pick up screws for a building project that the amount of energy used just to pick up shopping is gigantic. I was wondering how much forest had become fossilized just for me to get that litre of diesel that I used to … Read more
Now that there are one billion cars on the planet
With one billion cars on the planet it might be prudent to consider our oil use. Most cars run on the stuff. GIVEN that there are today one billion cars on the earth. the average car travels 15,000km a year and uses 1 liter to travel 12km. Global oil reserves were calculated to be 1,383 … Read more
Children can learn complex mathematics on their own new study suggests
A recent news article on Kurzweil suggests that schoolchildren can independently develop strategies for solving complex mathematical tasks, with weaker students proving just as capable as their stronger classmates.
The horse and oat cart challenge
I maintain that this little problem will illustrate how the maximum size of a city is well below that experts currently state. In fact, this problem shows that without fossil fuel the sizes of cities will be severely restricted. This little problem sets a benchmark for how large a city can be, as it is … Read more
The horse and oat carts problem
Although horses eat grass, they need oats. Imagine then a horse carrying food from the area of production to the city where the oats will be consumed. The driver feeds the horse the oats from the cart. Is there a way the answer to this problem could illustrate for us the maximum size of a … Read more
City density
An average city in Europe may show a population density of about 5000 inhabitants per km2. City centres have much more, from 12,000 upwards. However, around 40% of the area of these cities is allocated to car transport system – for example, roads, garages, parking spaces, car showrooms, repair shops and so on. If the … Read more
Holding hands around the world
This problem was given to me during the Future Perfect festival I thought I would post it… If we who live on Earth stand and hold hands with each other, would we be able to form a circle around the Earth? Given that the average comfortable reach is about 1,2 meters hand to hand. Given … Read more
