Question

Calculate the specific heat of a metal from the following data. A container made of the metal has a mass of 3.8 kg and contains 12 kg of water. A 2.1 kg piece of the metal initially at a temperature of 165°C is dropped into the water. The container and water initially have a temperature of 13.0°C, and the final temperature of the entire system is 18.0°C.

Answer 1

mass of container , mc = 3.8 kg

mass of water , mw = 12 kg

mass of metal , m =2.1 kg

initial temprature of metal , Tm = 165 degree C

initialy temprature of container and water , ti = 13 degree C

let the specific heat of the metal be C

final temprature , Tf = 18 degree C

heat lost by the metal = heat gained buy container + heat gained by water

m*C*(Ti - Tf) = mw*Cw*( Tf- Ti) + mc*C*( Tf - Ti)

2.1 * C*( 165 - 18) = 12 * 4186*( 18 - 13) + 3.8 * C*( 18-13 )

C = 866.96J/( degree . kg)