Question

Water has the highest specific heat among liquids -4.182 J/gC. Consider this scenario: After an intense workout session, the core temperature of an athlete increased by 1.5 C. Suppose the human body was evolved to contain a liquid other than water and this fluid has a low specific heat of 1 J/gC. What would have been the increase in core temperature of the athlete at the end of the workout?

Answer 1

According to research, an adult human body contains 60% of water.

Assuming that the heat transfer is controlled by fluid only in the body.

Heat stored in the body due to workout = Cp T = 4.182 x 1.5 = 6.273 J/g = constant (from given data)

Now, the water is exchanged to a fluid having Cp=1J/gC ,

As the heat evolved from the body during workout remains constant,

The heat stored in the body = Cp T|_{new fluid}  = 1 x T = 6.273 J/g

   T = 6.273 C

Therefore, increase in core temperature of the athlete at the end of the workout is 6.273 C