Question

A copper pot with a mass of 0.500 kg contains 0.175 kg of water, and both are at a temperature of 23.0 ∘C. A 0.240 kg block of iron at 85.5 ∘C is dropped into the pot. Find the final temperature of the system, assuming no heat loss to the surroundings. Express your answer in degrees Celsius.

Answer 1

Specific heat capacity for copper = 385 J/kg ^oC

Specific heat capacity of iron = 450 J/kg ^oC

let the final temperature of the system be T

heat gained by copper and water = heat lost by iron

mcT for copper + mcT for water = mcT for iron

0.5* 385*(T - 23) + 0.175*4186*(T - 23) = 0.24*450*(85.5 - T)  

T = 29.53 ^oC

so the final temperature of the system is 29.53^oC