Solving for the Amount of Heat in Calories

In summary, the conversation involves solving for the amount of heat in calories required to separate a nichrome wire embedded in a 1-kg block of ice at -10 degrees Celsius. The formula used is Q = m1 c1 t1 + m2 c2 t2, resulting in an answer of 355,810 cal. However, there is a question about how much of the ice needs to melt to free the wire. The solution involves warming the ice to the melting point and then melting it, using the formula Q = m*c*ΔT + m*Hf. The request for help in solving the problem is also mentioned.
  • #1
whilliam
1
0

Homework Statement


A piece of nichrome wire is embedded into a 1-kg block of ice at -10 degrees celcius. A current of 3.0 amperes and a voltage of 12 volts is maintained in the wire. How long will it take to separate the wire from the ice?

I only want to solve for the amount of heat in calories..
I used the formula:
Q = m1 c1 t1 + m2 c2 t2
The answer is 355,810 cal.
But I can't get it.
please help..
 
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  • #2
Welcome to PF, Whilliam.
Curious question - how do you know how much of the ice has to melt to free the wire?

If you are looking for the heat required to melt all the ice, it should be easy. There are two parts: first warm the ice to the melting point and second melt it. It will be something like this:
Q = m*c*ΔT + m*Hf
where ΔT is the change in temperature, c the heat capacity of ice, and Hf is the heat of fusion for ice to water.

Show your work here if you want us to check it for you!
 

What is the formula for calculating the amount of heat in calories?

The formula for calculating the amount of heat in calories is Q = m x c x ΔT, where Q is the amount of heat in calories, m is the mass of the substance in grams, c is the specific heat capacity of the substance in calories/gram °C, and ΔT is the change in temperature in °C.

What is the difference between heat and temperature?

Heat is the total energy in a substance, while temperature is a measure of the average kinetic energy of the particles in a substance. Heat is measured in joules or calories, while temperature is measured in degrees Celsius or Fahrenheit.

Why is it important to calculate the amount of heat in calories?

Calculating the amount of heat in calories is important in understanding how much energy is required to change the temperature of a substance. This information is crucial in various fields such as chemistry, physics, and engineering, as it helps in designing and controlling processes that involve heat transfer.

How does the specific heat capacity affect the amount of heat in calories?

The specific heat capacity is a measure of how much energy is required to change the temperature of a substance. The higher the specific heat capacity, the more energy is needed to increase the temperature of the substance. Therefore, substances with higher specific heat capacities will require more heat in calories to increase their temperature compared to substances with lower specific heat capacities.

What are some real-life applications of calculating the amount of heat in calories?

Calculating the amount of heat in calories is used in various real-life applications such as cooking, where heat is used to cook food. It is also used in industries to design and control processes involving heat transfer, such as in power plants and refrigeration systems. In addition, it is used in medicine to understand how the body responds to changes in temperature and to calculate the amount of energy required for medical procedures such as laser treatments.

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