Which statement is true about energy content per unit volume when comparing kerosene to gasoline?

Which statement is true about energy content per unit volume when comparing kerosene to gasoline?

• A. Kerosene has a lower energy per unit volume than gasoline
• B. Gasoline has a higher energy per unit volume than kerosene
• C. Kerosene has a higher energy value per unit volume than gasoline
• D. They have equal energy values per unit volume

Answer: (C)

Energy content per unit volume depends on both how much energy each unit of fuel can release and how much fuel fits in a given volume. Kerosene is denser than gasoline, so even if the energy per unit mass is similar (or slightly lower for kerosene), the greater mass packed into the same volume means more energy is available per liter or per gallon. In typical values, kerosene provides more energy per gallon than gasoline, so its energy per unit volume is higher. That’s why the statement that kerosene has a higher energy value per unit volume than gasoline is true. The key idea is that volumetric energy density takes into account density as well as energy per mass, and kerosene’s greater density leads to higher energy per volume.

Energy content per unit volume depends on both how much energy each unit of fuel can release and how much fuel fits in a given volume. Kerosene is denser than gasoline, so even if the energy per unit mass is similar (or slightly lower for kerosene), the greater mass packed into the same volume means more energy is available per liter or per gallon. In typical values, kerosene provides more energy per gallon than gasoline, so its energy per unit volume is higher. That’s why the statement that kerosene has a higher energy value per unit volume than gasoline is true. The key idea is that volumetric energy density takes into account density as well as energy per mass, and kerosene’s greater density leads to higher energy per volume.