Specific heat capacity

[yousawinner]

200 g of water at 30 degrees C is mixed with 20 g of silver at 350 degrees C, what's the final temp?

 

[marshall mathers]

Let the final temperature be T C. Now in this question you have to assume that no heat is lost to the surroundings unless it has been specified in the question. Now heat is transferred from the higher temperature body to the lower one. In this question heat will be transferred from the silver to the water. Taking this assumption into consideration, you will get heat gained by water = heat lost by silver.

Heat gained by water = mass of water in kg x specific heat capacity of water x change in temperature where the latter will be (T-30) C
Heat lost by silver = mass of silver in kg x specific heat capacity of silver x change in temperature where the latter will be (350-T) C

Equate the 2 and solve for T. If the specific heat capacity is given in J per gram per C then no need to convert the mass in kg.

 

[yousawinner]

Let the final temperature be T C. Now in this question you have to assume that no heat is lost to the surroundings unless it has been specified in the question. Now heat is transferred from the higher temperature body to the lower one. In this question heat will be transferred from the silver to the water. Taking this assumption into consideration, you will get heat gained by water = heat lost by silver.

Heat gained by water = mass of water in kg x specific heat capacity of water x change in temperature where the latter will be (T-30) C
Heat lost by silver = mass of silver in kg x specific heat capacity of silver x change in temperature where the latter will be (350-T) C

Equate the 2 and solve for T. If the specific heat capacity is given in J per gram per C then no need to convert the mass in kg.

Just to clarify, is it important always to convert degrees celcius to degrees kelvin? Or does it have to be stated in the question?

 

[marshall mathers]

Just to clarify, is it important always to convert degrees celcius to degrees kelvin? Or does it have to be stated in the question?

Not necessary because a change of 1 C is equivalent to a change of 1 K. Whether you leave it in C or K the change in temperature will still be the same.

 

[yousawinner]

Not necessary because a change of 1 C is equivalent to a change of 1 K. Whether you leave it in C or K the change in temperature will still be the same.

Cool, thanks!