Physlet Illustration: Specific Heat

 

 

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A metallic object of mass 50 grams is attached to a digital temperature probe, which reads the object's temperature in °C. The object is suspended above a thin-walled, vacuum-insulated beaker containing 250 ml of water, initially at room temperature, whose temperature is monitored by a second probe. Lower the object into the water, and see how the temperatures change. Ignoring any heat gained by the beaker or its surroundings, can you determine the specific heat of the metal?

Hints:

  1. How much does the water temperature rise from its initial value?
  2. Knowing the mass and specific heat of water, how much heat energy did the water gain?
  3. How much heat energy, then, was lost by the metal?
  4. What was the temperature change of the metal?
  5. Can you calculate the specific heat of the metal?

Reference

See Walker, Section 16-5

Illustration written by Steve Mellema