How Do You Calculate the Specific Heat of a Metal in a Water Container?

AI Thread Summary
To calculate the specific heat of the metal, apply the principle of conservation of energy, where the heat lost by the metal equals the heat gained by the water and the container. The mass of the metal is 2.1 kg, with an initial temperature of 200.0°C, while the water and container start at 14.3°C and reach a final temperature of 16.3°C. The equation Q = M*C*ΔT can be used, where ΔT for the metal is the difference between its initial temperature and the final temperature, and for water and the container, it is the difference between their initial temperatures and the final temperature. The total heat exchange must equal zero, leading to the equation: (mass of metal * specific heat of metal * temperature change of metal) + (mass of water * specific heat of water * temperature change of water) + (mass of container * specific heat of container * temperature change of container) = 0. Solving this equation will yield the specific heat of the metal.
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Specific Heat...Please help!

Homework Statement


A metal container, which has a mass of 7.2 kg contains 14.7 kg of water. A 2.1-kg piece of the same metal, initially at a temperature of 200.0°C, is dropped into the water. The container and the water initially have a temperature of 14.3°C and the final temperature of the entire system is 16.3°C. Calculate the specific heat of the metal.


Homework Equations


Q = M*C*CHANGE IN TEMP.


The Attempt at a Solution


M = 2.1 KG
CHANGE IN TEMP = What initial temperature do I use??
Q = ? How do calculate this?
C = ?
 
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use conservation of energy.

The mc*deltat 's of all the items involved add to 0.

what equation do you get?
 

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