Specific Heat Capacity

Question

A 2KG block of copper at 100 degrees Celsius is put in a 5L pot of water at 20 degrees. Assuming no energy is lost to the surrounding environment, what is the final temperature of the mixture?

Answer 1

Apply the law of heat exchange.

Let the final temperature of the mixture be T

Hot copper looses the energy and cooler water gains all of it.

2•390•(100-T) = 5•4200•(T-20) Mass is in KG. 5L of water is 5kg and 390 and 4200 are specific heat capacities of copper and water respectively in J/(kg•°C)

If you solve the equation for T, that would be the final temperature of the mixture as per our original assumption.

I hope this helps

Mr. A