Questions on Internal Energy and Specific Heat Capacities

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Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around questions related to internal energy and specific heat capacities, focusing on calculations involving thermal capacity, energy transfer in heating water, and the energy associated with phase changes of water.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Conceptual clarification, Mathematical reasoning, Problem interpretation

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • The original poster attempts to calculate thermal capacity and energy requirements for heating water, while also questioning the relationship between latent heat and phase changes. Some participants suggest clarifying definitions and concepts related to thermal capacity and energy transfer.

Discussion Status

Participants are exploring various aspects of the questions, with some providing partial calculations and others seeking clarification on specific terms and concepts. There is an ongoing dialogue about the steps needed to approach the problems, particularly regarding the second and third questions.

Contextual Notes

Participants are navigating definitions and calculations without complete consensus on the interpretations of the questions. The original poster expresses confusion about certain terms and calculations, indicating a need for further clarification.

Auron87
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I've got a set of questions based on internal energy and specific heat capacities and things. I could just do with a bit of help on some of them. Just a push in the right direction will probably do! Thanks.

Specific heat capacity of water = 4200 J/kg/K
Specific heat capacity of ice = 2100 J/kg/K
Specific heat capacity of lead = 130 J/kg/K
Specific heat capacity of copper = 390 J/kg/K
Specific latent heat of fusion of ice = 330 kJ/kg
Specific latent heat of vaporisation of water = 2.3MJ/kg

1. Calculate the thermal capacity of an object that contains 950g of copper and 700g of lead.

2. An electric kettle is rated as 2.5kW. The thermal capacity of the kettle is negligible and then kettle is filled with 1.2kg of water at 15 degrees C.
Calculate (a) the time taken for the kettle to bring the water to the boil and (b) the mass of the water boiled away in 4 mins.

3. The mass of 1.0 mole of water is 0.018 kg. Estimate the energy required to remove a molecule of water from the surface of boiling water. (Avogadro constant = 6.02 x 10^23 mol^-1).

And also if something is as steam and is condensing to water then wuold the specific latent heat of it be the same as the latent heat of vaporisation of water?

Thanks again!
 
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There isn't a whole lot of room to "hint" at these --- you understand the definitions or you don't --- these are "What color was George Washington's white horse?" type questions. One step at a time, and show where you're getting lost.
 
Well for question 1 I don't really understand what it means by thermal capacity but what I think I would do is work out the heat capacity by multiplying the specific heat capacity by the mass and then add the two together.
For the 2nd question I think I've done part (a) although I'm not sure that it is correct. This is what I did:
2.5 kW = 2500 J/s
dQ = mc(dT)
= 1.2 x 4200 x 85
= 428400
428400/2500 = 171.36 secs
Part (b) I don't really know where to start with

The 3rd question I am very confused about and again don't really know where to start.
 
1) Yup.

2) Good so far. b) Step at a time: decide whether 4 min. is total time, or time elapsed after you get to boiling temp.; then, 4min. or 4 min. - your 171 sec. times burner power equals total energy you've put into vaporizing water.

3) How much water are you evaporating/vaporizing? 1/A moles?

Enthalpy of vaporization is minus enthalpy of condensation, or vice versa.
 

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