Good question — let’s go through that step by step carefully, so you can see exactly how the area is
found and why the units make sense.
Given:
Energy needed by the water per day, ( Q_{\text{water}} = 21{,}000\ \text{J} )
Each 1 m² of solar panel gives ( Q_{\text{panel}} = 5{,}000{,}000\ \text{J/day} )
We assume the energy absorbed by the panel is directly proportional to its area.
So, if 1 m² gives 5 000 000 J, then we can write:
[
\frac{Q_{\text{panel}}}{A_{\text{panel}}} = \frac{5{,}000{,}000\ \text{J}}{1\ \text{m}^2}
]
Step 1. Set up the proportion
Let ( A ) be the area needed for 21 000 J:
[
\frac{5{,}000{,}000}{1} = \frac{21{,}000}{A}
]
Step 2. Solve for ( A )
[
A = \frac{21{,}000}{5{,}000{,}000}
]
Now do the division carefully:
( 21{,}000 ÷ 5{,}000{,}000 = 0.0042 )
So:
[
A = 0.0042\ \text{m}^2
]
Step 3. Convert m² to cm² (optional)
We know:
[
1\ \text{m}^2 = 100\text{ cm} \times 100\text{ cm} = 10{,}000\ \text{cm}^2
]
So:
[
A = 0.0042 \times 10{,}000 = 42\ \text{cm}^2
]
✅ Final Answer:
[
A = 0.0042\ \text{m}^2 = 42\ \text{cm}^2
]
Meaning:
A tiny panel of only about 42 cm² (for example 6.5 cm × 6.5 cm) would supply enough heat each day
to raise 0.25 kg of water by 20 °C, assuming the panel delivers 5 MJ/m² per day.
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