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Chapter 8: Problem 23

Let's say that Earth was originally endowed with one million flerbits, \({ }^{87}\) and that we have already used up 400,000 of them. We currently extract 15,000 per year. How long does the \(\mathrm{R} / \mathrm{P}\) ratio suggest the resource will last?

Short Answer

Expert verified
Answer: The remaining flerbits resource will last for 40 years at the current extraction rate.

Step by step solution

01

Determine the remaining flerbits

First, we need to find out how many flerbits are left after using up 400,000 of them. To do this, subtract 400,000 from the original number of flerbits (1,000,000). Remaining flerbits = 1,000,000 - 400,000
02

Calculate the reserve-to-production (R/P) ratio

To find the R/P ratio for the remaining flerbits, we'll first calculate the Reserve (R) and then divide it by the current Production (P). Reserve (R) = Remaining flerbits Production (P) = 15,000 flerbits per year R/P ratio = R / P R/P ratio = Remaining flerbits / Current extraction rate
03

Calculate the remaining flerbits and current extraction rate

Now we have: Remaining flerbits = 1,000,000 - 400,000 = 600,000 flerbits Current extraction rate = 15,000 flerbits per year
04

Apply the R/P ratio formula to determine how long the resource will last

Now we can apply the R/P ratio formula: R/P ratio = 600,000 flerbits / 15,000 flerbits per year R/P ratio = 40 years Based on the R/P ratio, the remaining flerbits resource will last for 40 years at the current extraction rate.

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Most popular questions from this chapter

A gallon of gasoline contains about \(37 \mathrm{kWh}\) of energy and costs about \(\$ 4\), while a typical AA battery holds about \(0.003 \mathrm{kWh}\) and costs about \(\$ 0.50\) each, in bulk. By what factor are batteries more expensive, for the same amount of energy?

If the inevitable decline in fossil fuel availability is a potentially important disrupter of the status quo in the decades to come, what are some reasons it gets little attention compared to, say, climate change? No right answer here, but what do you think contributes?

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