Question

suppose a bird has a mass of 30 grams. What is the minimum mass of glucose that it must consume to fly from the ground up to a branch 10.0m in height? Assume the glucose is oxidized in the body by O2 to the usual products. You need delta G for this reaction.

Answer 1

w = m g h

   = 30 x 10^-3 x 9.81 x 10

   = 2.943 J

glucose combustion energy = 2828 kJ/mol released

number of moles of glucose = n = 2.943 / 2828 x 10^3

                                                   = 1.0407 x 10^-6

mass of glucose = 1.0407 x 10^-6 x 180

                           = 1.9 x 10^-4 g

                           = 0.19 mg

   0.19 mg of glucose must be consumed