Question

the mass, specific heat capacity and initial temperature of the sphere was 1000 gm, 1/2 cal/gm°C and 80°C respectively. the mass of the liquid and the calorimeter are 900 gm and 200 gm, and initially both were at room temperature 20°C. both calorimeter and sphere are made of same material. if the steady state temperature after moving is found to be 40°C, then the specific heat capacity of unknown liquid is
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Answer 1

The specific heat of liquid = 1.1 cal/s

Explanation

When sphere is dropped into calorimeter containing liquid , it will lose heat

The heat lost = mass x specific heat x change in temperature

= 1000 x 1/2 x ( 80 - 40 ) = 20000 cal

Similarly heat gained by liquid and calorimeter

= 900 x c x ( 40 - 20 ) + 200 x 1/2 x ( 40 - 20 )

According to principle of calorimetery

Heat gained = Heat lost

Thus  20000 = 18000 c + 2000

19800 = 18000 c

or c = 1.1 cal/g

Therefore the specific heat of liquid is  1.1 cal/g