I got a question about the human body

if they human body was powered by electricity, how much power would a human use?

Going by the 2000-calories-daily standard (ie, it takes about 2000 calories for the 'average person' to function daily):

1 calorie = 4.18 joules
2000 calories = 8.36 kilojoules required for daily functioning.

This is, of course, a direct conversion. I'm not sure if this would actually hold up under more advanced scrutiny.

Originally posted by Mindship

This is, of course, a direct conversion. I'm not sure if this would actually hold up under more advanced scrutiny.

and how do you convert that to watts? would that be 8,000 watts a day?

Originally posted by Mindship
Going by the 2000-calories-daily standard (ie, it takes about 2000 calories for the 'average person' to function daily):

1 calorie = 4.18 joules
2000 calories = 8.36 kilojoules required for daily functioning.

This is, of course, a direct conversion. I'm not sure if this would actually hold up under more advanced scrutiny.

That's how much energy, he asked for power which would be about 95 watts by your numbers.

[edit]Actually your math is off. You need 2000 Calories a day, that's the same as 2000000 calories a day. So 8300kJ per day.

It's still 95 watts, though, I just did 2000Cal/day to get that number, didn't notice that you missed the terminology (which is in fact ridiculously confusing).

Originally posted by Symmetric Chaos
That's how much energy, he asked for power which would be about 95 watts by your numbers.

Originally posted by Colossus-Big C
so if the human body uses 95 watts?

😉

Originally posted by inimalist
😉

i think my laptop uses much more power than that

Originally posted by Colossus-Big C
so if the human body uses 95 watts?

Under typical conditions it's probably close enough. When it's colder, when you're sick or when you're exercising the power will rise. When it's warmer or you're sleeping the power will drop.

Originally posted by Colossus-Big C
would a human size robot powered by 95 watts be able to do our daily activities?

i think my laptop uses much more power than that

it would depend on how the robot is built, in theory though, if it were a robot built identical to a human, it should work

Originally posted by inimalist
it would depend on how the robot is built, in theory though, if it were a robot built identical to a human, it should work

But then it would be a human, not a robot. nuts

Originally posted by inimalist
it would depend on how the robot is built, in theory though, if it were a robot built identical to a human, it should work

Originally posted by Colossus-Big C
how is it possible that a human body uses less power than a light bulb?

I think most light bulbs are about 30W.

Originally posted by Symmetric Chaos
I think most light bulbs are about 30W.

considering that our hearts are constantly moving are lungs are constantly moving and we do activities like bench pressing 200 pounds i find it hard to believe a light bulb is close to the the level of power we use

Originally posted by Symmetric Chaos
That's how much energy, he asked for power which would be about 95 watts by your numbers.

[edit]Actually your math is off. You need 2000 [b]Calories a day, that's the same as 2000000 calories a day. So 8300kJ per day.

It's still 95 watts, though, I just did 2000Cal/day to get that number, didn't notice that you missed the terminology (which is in fact ridiculously confusing). [/B]

That aside...there are two types of 'calories'? Jiminy Crickets. Is there a conversion table for this other kind?

As for the 95 watts...my first impulse was to go with about 100 watts, because I remember reading somewhere that the human body emits as much heat as a 100 watt bulb...though, again, the numbers may be coincidental.

EDIT: Found it: 'small' and 'large' calories. Oy.

Originally posted by Mindship
The question could've been a little more clear then, since it did say, if the "...human body was powered by electricity..." The joule is an applicable unit.

Well it's a related unit. Joules measure energy, watts measure power ( in joules per second).

Originally posted by Mindship
EDIT: Found it: 'small' and 'large' calories. Oy.

Terrible, isn't it?

so 1 calorie is really 1000 calories?

Originally posted by Colossus-Big C
theres 100 watt light bulbs

considering that our hearts are constantly moving are lungs are constantly moving and we do activities like bench pressing 200 pounds i find it hard to believe a light bulb is close to the the level of power we use

Originally posted by Parmaniac
When was the last time you saw a 60-70°C hot and bright shining human?

Originally posted by Colossus-Big C
so 1 calorie is really 1000 calories?

1 Calorie = 1000 calories

Big 'C' Calorie is for food. Little 'c' calorie is for other stuff, to avoid ambiguity it sometimes gets called a "thermochemical calorie".

Originally posted by Symmetric Chaos
1 Calorie = 1000 calories

Big 'C' Calorie is for food. Little 'c' calorie is for other stuff, to avoid ambiguity it sometimes gets called a "thermochemical calorie".