If a 100 watt light bulb operates for 8 hours, how many joules of energy does it consume?

To determine the energy consumed by a 100 watt light bulb operating for 8 hours, one must use the relationship between power and energy. Power is defined as the rate at which energy is consumed or produced, measured in watts (W). One watt is equivalent to one joule per second (J/s).

Firstly, calculate the total energy consumed in joules by multiplying power (in watts) by time (in seconds).

1. Convert the time from hours to seconds: [ 8 \text{ hours} \times 3600 \text{ seconds/hour} = 28800 \text{ seconds} ]

2. Next, multiply the power (100 watts) by the elapsed time (28800 seconds): [ 100 \text{ watts} \times 28800 \text{ seconds} = 2880000 \text{ joules} = 2.88 \text{ MJ} ]

Since 2.88 megajoules is approximately equal to 2.9 megajoules, it confirms that the energy consumed is close to the option provided. The correct answer thus represents the energy consumed in the appropriate unit and calculation method.

In summary, the