How many BTUs are needed to raise the temperature of 1 lb of water from 32°F to 212°F?

To determine how many BTUs are required to raise the temperature of 1 pound of water from 32°F to 212°F, you need to consider the specific heat of water and the temperature change involved.

Water has a specific heat of approximately 1 BTU per pound per degree Fahrenheit. Therefore, to find out how many BTUs are needed for the temperature increase from 32°F to 212°F, first calculate the total temperature change. The temperature change is:

212°F - 32°F = 180°F.

Since it takes 1 BTU to raise 1 pound of water by 1°F, in this case, to raise the temperature by 180°F, you would need:

1 BTU/lb/°F × 1 lb × 180°F = 180 BTUs.

This means that to raise the temperature of 1 pound of water from 32°F to 212°F, a total of 180 BTUs is required, which aligns with the choice provided. Understanding the fundamentals of heat transfer and specific heat is crucial for this type of calculation in the context of steam engineering and related fields.