Question

A 2 kg block is made of a metal that has higher specific heat than the metal out of which a 1 kg block is made. The 2 kg block was originally at 500C and the 1 kg at 200C. When the two blocks are placed in contact, determine the final equilibrium temperature?

Answer 1

Therefore the final equilibrium temperature is 200 [(5S₁ + S₂)/(2S₁ - S₂)].

Given : A 2 kg block is made of a metal that has higher specific heat than the metal out of which a 1 kg block is made. The 2 kg block was originally at 500°C and the 1 kg at 200°C .

To find : the final equilibrium temperature when blocks are placed in contact.

Solution : using formula,

Final temperature, T = (m₁S₁T₁ + m₂S₂T₂)/(m₁S₁ - m₂S₂)

here m₁ = mass of block 1 = 2kg

m₂ = mass of block 2 = 1kg

S₁ = specific heat of block 1

S₂ = specific heat of block 2

T₁ = Temperature of block 1 = 500°C

T₂ = Temperature of block 2 = 200°C

so, T = (2 × S₁ × 500 + 1 × S₂ × 200)/(2 × S₁ - 1 × S₂)

= 200 [(5S₁ + S₂)/(2S₁ - S₂)]

Therefore the final equilibrium temperature is 200 [(5S₁ + S₂)/(2S₁ - S₂)]