Heat Capacity and Temperature change

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SUMMARY

The discussion focuses on calculating the final temperature when two materials, low carbon steel and polyethylene, are combined. The specific heat capacities are given as 480 J/kg·K for low carbon steel and 1.8 x 103 J/kg·K for polyethylene. The problem involves a 5 kg piece of low carbon steel at 25°C and a 300 g piece of polyethylene at 180°C. The participants clarify the values for each material to ensure accurate calculations.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of heat capacity and its formula.
  • Knowledge of specific heat capacity values for different materials.
  • Ability to perform unit conversions (e.g., grams to kilograms).
  • Familiarity with thermal equilibrium concepts.
NEXT STEPS
  • Learn how to apply the heat transfer equation in mixed material problems.
  • Study the concept of thermal equilibrium in detail.
  • Explore examples of heat capacity calculations involving multiple substances.
  • Investigate the effects of mass and specific heat on final temperature outcomes.
USEFUL FOR

Students in physics or engineering, educators teaching thermodynamics, and anyone interested in heat transfer calculations involving multiple materials.

A.Carpenter
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I know how to do heat capacity problems but i am unsure of how to do them when two materials are combined together. Here is the question. Any help would be great, thanks.

A 5 kg pieces of low carbon steel at room temperature 25°C is placed into contact with a 300g piece of polyethylene at 180°C . What is the final temperature?

Low carbon steel Cp = 480 j/kg.K
Polyethylene Cp = 1.8 x 10^3 j/kg.K
 
Last edited:
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hey mate, just letting you know that your values with regard to each material have not come up correctly, there are just squares next to the numbers.
 
oh cheers, is that any better? i changed them
 

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