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Q.1011: How much paper can be made from one Tree?
Ans. It will depend how big is the tree and which type of paper is being made. In the following table some assumptions are made to answer the question.
| Particulars | In Metric Unit | In English Unit (USA) |
| Type of Paper | Copying Paper | Copying Paper |
| Dimension of Single sheet of Paper | A4 (210x297mm) | Letter (8.5"x11") |
| Weight of Paper | 70 gm/m2 | 20 lbs for 500 sheets of 17"x22" |
| Weight of single sheet | 70*0.21*0.297 = 4.366 gm | 20*8.5*11/(500*17*22) = 0.01lb |
| Type of Tree | Pine | Pine |
| Dimension of tree | 25 m high and average diameter is 30 cm | 75 ft high and average diameter is 1ft |
| Volume of one tree | 3.146*.3^2*25 = 7.0785 m3 | 3.146*1*1*75 = 235.95 ft3 |
| Density of pine (dry weight basis) | 600 Kg/m3 | 35 lbs/ ft3 |
| Weight of the tree | 600*7.0785 = 4162 Kg | 236*35 = 8260 lb |
| Yield of pulp (pulp produced/weight of wood) | 50% | 50% |
| Pulp Produced | 0.5*4162 = 2081 Kg | 0.5*8260 = 4130 lbs |
| Number of sheets produced | 2081*1000/4.366 = 476637 | 4130/0.01 = 413000 |
These calculations are only for demonstration and at best approximate.