Calculating Specific Heat Capacity of Copper
Question:
How can we determine the specific heat capacity of a piece of copper based on the energy absorbed and temperature change?
Answer:
To calculate the specific heat capacity of copper, we can use the formula q=mcΔT. In this formula, q represents the energy absorbed, m is the mass of the copper in grams, c is the specific heat capacity of copper, and ΔT is the temperature change. By rearranging the formula, we can find the specific heat capacity of copper by dividing the energy absorbed by the product of the mass and temperature change.
Calculation Process:
Given data:
Mass of copper (m) = 95.4 grams
Initial temperature (T1) = 74°C
Final temperature (T2) = 99°C
Energy absorbed (q) = 849 J
Step 1: Calculate the temperature change (ΔT) using the formula ΔT = T2 - T1
ΔT = 99°C - 74°C = 25°C
Step 2: Substitute the known values into the formula q = mcΔT and solve for the specific heat capacity (c)
849 J = 95.4 g * c * 25°C
c = 849 J / (95.4 g * 25°C) = 0.353 J/g°C
Therefore, the specific heat capacity of the piece of copper is 0.353 J/g°C.
Confirmation:
The calculated specific heat capacity of copper (0.353 J/g°C) can be compared with the known specific heat capacity of copper, which is approximately 0.39 J/g°C. If the values are close, it confirms the identity of the metal as copper.