When the tank of my car is empty, I fill the tank with about eighty gallons of gas. This much gas weighs approx. 35 kilograms. However, when its time to refill my car again, I dont have to remove 35 kilograms of product from my car. What has happened, and does it violate the law of conservation of mass? EXPLAIN.

Question

When the tank of my car is empty, I fill the tank with about eighty gallons of gas.  This much gas weighs approx. 35 kilograms. However, when its time to refill my car again, I dont have to remove 35 kilograms of product from my car.  What has happened, and does it violate the law of conservation of mass? EXPLAIN.

anonymous · Answer

This is not biology. ಠ_ಠ

anonymous · Answer

Umm yeah it is! it was a problem i got on my lab..so yeahh can u help or not?

blues · Answer

It's not biology - it's chemistry or physics, depending on your perspective - but the principles do pertain to biology.

Specifically, it's what Einstein meant when he said E = mc^2: that matter (in terms of bonds between atoms) and energy are interconvertable.

As the gasoline is burned, chemical bonds are broken and the energy in them is used to power the car. The products - which are very small CO2 molecules - are expelled through the exhaust pipe. So when you have to refill the tank, the waste products have already left it.

anonymous · Answer

OK and yes thank you very much!