Question

A 53.0-g metal weight, heated to 87.50°C, is placed into 191 g of water at 21.05°C contained in a perfectly insulating thermos flask. After some time, the temperature inside the thermos flask stabilizes at 23.80°C.
The specific heat capacity of water is approximately 4.18 J/K/g in the temperature range 16°C - 61°C.
Calculate the specific heat capacity of the metal.

Answer 1

since the container is insulated, heat lost by metal = heat gained by water

mass of metal* speciifc heat of metal* temperature difference= mass of water* specific heat of water* temperature difference

metal   is at higher temperature than water and hence metal looses to water and water gains heat . Ultimately both will reach a temperature of 23.8deg.c

53*specific heat of metal*( 87.5-23.8)= 191*4.184*(23.8-21.05)

Specific heat of metal = 0.61 J/gm.deg.c