Question

Sweating is one of the main mechanisms with which the body dissipates heat. Sweat evaporates with a latent heat of 2430 kJ/kg at body temperature, and the body can produce as much as 1.3 kg of sweat per hour. If sweating were the only heat dissipation mechanism, what would be the maximum sustainable metabolic rate, in watts, if 83% of the energy used by the body goes into waste heat?

Answer should be in W

Answer 1

Let P be the maximum metabolic rate.

0.83 P is concerted into body heat

0.83 P = 1.3 kg/hr*(1/3600 hr/s)*2430*10^3 J/kg

Solve for P, in J/s (Watts)

I get about a kilowatt

Answer 2

1057.2