Real-Life Math
You're an industrial engineer working at a food processing plant.
Recently, a scissor hoist was installed at the plant's loading bay. When enough
stacks of food are placed on the hoist, it rises to the level of the plant
floor. The plant floor is five meters above the loading bay.
You've
studied the situation and decided that in order for things to work efficiently,
the hoist should carry 2,000 kilograms per load. The hoist should also be
able to lift the load in 30 seconds. The motor that runs the hoist will run
off of a 440-volt line.
"Common sense is a trait that often is inherent
with people and, by adding mathematics, it allows students to hone their skills
into a science," says industrial engineer Kazuo Takeda. "Math is used all
the time with IEs to quantify and qualify options."
As the industrial
engineer in charge of the project, it is your responsibility to buy the electrical
motor that will run the hoist. You have a choice of three electric motors.
The Titan motor has an output of 9 amps, the Midget motor has an output of
4 amps and the Humble motor has an output of 7 amps.
Now you need
to assess how many amps your hoist will need to work.
Use these equations.
(Hint: Use the equations in the order that they're given.)
Force
(newtons) = mass x acceleration due to gravity
Acceleration due to gravity
= 9.8 m / sec2
Work = force x distance
Power
(watts) = work / time
Current (amps) = power / volts
Note:
industrial engineers use both the metric and the imperial system.