Question:
Suppose the average mass of raindrops is 3.0 × 10-5 kg and their average terminal velocity 9 m/s. Calculate the energy transferred by rain to each square meter of the surface at a place which receives 100 cm of rain in a year.
Solution:
Energy transferred by the rain to the surface of the earth = 1/2 mv2
The velocity of the rain = 9 m/s
Mass = (volume)(density) = 1000 kg
Energy transferred by 100 cm rainfall = 1/2 mv2 = 4.05×104 J