RaulTheUCSCSlug said:
Delta T, or change in temperature, is always positive in calorimetry because it represents the difference between the final and initial temperatures of a system. Since temperature is a measure of thermal energy, it can only increase or decrease, resulting in a positive change.
Yes, Delta T is still positive even if the system loses heat because it is a relative change in temperature. Even if the final temperature is lower than the initial temperature, the change is still positive as long as there is a difference between the two temperatures.
No, Delta T cannot be negative in calorimetry because it represents the difference between two positive values (final and initial temperatures). Negative temperatures do not exist in reality, so Delta T will always be positive.
Delta T is directly proportional to the amount of heat exchanged in a system. This means that the larger the change in temperature, the more heat was exchanged. However, Delta T alone does not provide information about the specific amount of heat exchanged, as it also depends on the heat capacity of the substances involved.
In most cases, Delta T will always be positive in calorimetry. However, there may be exceptions in certain scenarios, such as when a substance undergoes a phase change (e.g. melting or boiling). In these cases, the change in temperature may be considered 0, resulting in a Delta T of 0.