Energy Balance and Efficiency of the Food Chain

Instructions:

I have a physics project about energy use in the U.S. food system. I already have calculations and research started. I need help organizing the paper, checking calculations, improving clarity, and formatting the report properly.

Formatting Requirements:

Font: Times New Roman

Size: 12 pt

Double spaced

1-inch margins

Paper Structure:

1. Calculation Section (about 1 page)
2. Show the following calculations clearly with formulas and steps:

Calculation 1

A. Total Calories consumed per day in the United States

B. Total Calories consumed per year

C. Convert Calories to BTUs

D. Convert BTUs to QUADs

E. Calculate the percentage of total U.S. yearly energy use

Assumptions:

U.S. population = 330,000,000

Average consumption = 2500 Calories per person per day

1. Food Energy Research
2. Choose one vegetable (or fruit) and one meat.

For each food include:

Calories per pound

Energy required to produce one pound

Convert units so they match

Calculate energy balance:

Energy balance = energy in food energy used to produce the food

1. Calculation 2
2. Using the total yearly Calories from Calculation 1:

A. If all Americans got their food energy from the vegetable, calculate how much energy must be input to the food chain.

B. If all Americans got their food energy from the meat, calculate the energy input required.

1. Two-Page Summary
2. Write a discussion explaining:
3. Energy use in the U.S. food chain
4. Major energy inputs in agriculture
5. Differences between plant and meat production
6. How diet choices affect national energy use
7. References
8. Include sources for:
9. Food calorie values
10. Energy used to produce the foods
11. Any supporting research

Goal:

The final document should be about 34 pages total including calculations and references.