Question about thermal physics -- Ice cubes melting in water

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Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around a thermal physics problem involving the melting of ice cubes in water. The original poster calculates the heat required for the ice to melt and attempts to determine the final temperature of the water after the ice has melted, but encounters discrepancies with the expected answer.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Assumption checking, Mathematical reasoning

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants discuss the calculations for the heat required to melt the ice and the subsequent temperature changes in the water. Questions arise regarding the initial temperature of the ice and the assumptions made about the system, such as whether the water's temperature can remain constant when ice is added.

Discussion Status

Several participants are exploring different interpretations of the problem, particularly regarding the assumptions about the initial temperature of the ice and the heat transfer involved. Some guidance has been offered about the nature of thermal equilibrium and the calculations involved, but no consensus has been reached on the correct approach or final temperature.

Contextual Notes

There is a noted confusion regarding the specific latent heat of ice, with participants questioning the values used in calculations. The problem also assumes no heat loss from the vacuum flask, which is a critical aspect of the setup.

ianc1339
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Homework Statement
Ice cubes of total mass 150 g are placed in a vacuum flask holding 350 g of water at a temperature of 80 degrees Celsius. Assuming the vacuum flask loses no heat and has negligible heat capacity, what will be the final temperature of the water after all the ice has melted.
Relevant Equations
Q = mLf,
Q = mcΔT
First, I calculated the heat required for the ice to melt:

Q=mLf

Q=0.150×330

Q=49.5 J

Then, I calculated the final temperature of the water by forming the following equation:

Q=mcΔT

−49.5=(0.15+0.35)×4200×(Tf −80)

Tf=80.0 degrees celsius

But the answer says 32 degrees Celsius.
 
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ianc1339 said:
Homework Statement:: Ice cubes of total mass 150 g are placed in a vacuum flask holding 350 g of water at a temperature of 80 degrees Celsius. Assuming the vacuum flask loses no heat and has negligible heat capacity, what will be the final temperature of the water after all the ice has melted.
What is the initial temperature of the ice?
ianc1339 said:
−49.5=(0.15+0.35)×4200×(Tf −80)
Having melted the ice, what masses of water at what temperatures do you have?
 
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haruspex said:
What is the initial temperature of the ice?

Having melted the ice, what masses of water at what temperatures do you have?

It didn't say anything about it. So I'm assuming it to be 0 degrees Celsius.
 
ianc1339 said:
It didn't say anything about it. So I'm assuming it to be 0 degrees Celsius.
Ok, but what about my second question?
 
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Welcome, ianc1339 :cool:
In real life, could the temperature of a mass of water remain the same (80 degrees Celsius in this case) if you add about half the mass of ice to it?

Your mass of water has more thermal energy than your mass of ice.
If you put both masses in direct contact, naturally a flow of energy from hotter to cooler will occur.

Once the thermal equilibrium is reached (there is no more energy flow), the original mass of frozen water will have a higher temperature and the original mass of water will have a lower temperature, the value of both being the same.

The calculation would be easier if you originally had two masses of water at different temperatures: the final temperature would be proportional to the masses.
In the case of this problem, some of the original energy of the mass of water must be used to melt the mass of ice, while its temperature remains at 0 degrees Celsius (heat of phase change).
From that point on, you have two masses of water at different temperatures and an ongoing flow of energy.

Please, see:
http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/thermo/phase2.html#c1

:cool:
 
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ianc1339 said:
Q=mLf

Q=0.150×330

Q=49.5 J
What are the units attached to the numbers 0.150 and 330? Is your calculation consistent?

ianc1339 said:
Q=mcΔT

−49.5=(0.15+0.35)×4200×(Tf −80)
Does all the water cool down from 80°C? Doesn't some of it have to warm up from 0°?
 
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Calculating latent heat required to melt ice:
##
Q=mL_f\\

Q=0.150kg\times 330Jkg^-1\\

Q=49.5 J
##

Calculating change in temperature of water:
##
Q=mc\Delta T\\

−49.5J=0.35kg\times 4200Jkg^{-1}K^{-1}\times (T_f −80^o C)\\

T_f=79.966^oC
##

Calculating temperature when the two bodies of water reach thermal equilibrium:
##
0.15kg\times 4200Jkg^{-1}K^{-1}\times (T_f - 0^oC) = 0.35kg\times 4200Jkg^{-1}K^{-1}\times (79.966^oC - T_f)\\

T_f = 56.0^oC
##

I still got the wrong answer... Where did I make an error in my working?
 
ianc1339 said:
## 330Jkg^{-1}##
Check that number, paying attention to units.
Didn't it seem wrong that the water was only losing 0.034oC?
(For the LaTeX, you need to put {} around the -1.)
 
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haruspex said:
Check that number, paying attention to units.
Didn't it seem wrong that the water was only losing 0.034oC?
(For the LaTeX, you need to put {} around the -1.)

My book said the specific latent heat of ice was 330 Jkg^-1. But with a quick google search, it turns out that it is actually 330000 Jkg^-1.

And yes, I ended up getting 32 degrees Celsius. I don't know why the book wrote down the constant wrong which is quite annoying.

Anyways, thanks for the heads up!
 

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