Specific Heat Capacity Question

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Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around a problem involving specific heat capacity, where participants are trying to determine the mass of milk added to coffee to achieve a specific final temperature. The initial temperatures of the milk and coffee, along with the final temperature, are provided.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Mathematical reasoning, Assumption checking

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants discuss the rearrangement of the equation related to heat transfer and question how to isolate one of the masses. There is also a mention of ensuring the correct use of parentheses in the equation.

Discussion Status

The discussion is ongoing, with participants offering guidance on the equation setup and expressing uncertainty about the clarity of the explanations. Some suggestions have been made regarding the approach to solving for the unknown mass.

Contextual Notes

There is a note about the necessity of converting temperatures to Kelvin, which may indicate a potential oversight in the initial setup. The participants are also grappling with the implications of the weighted average concept in the context of the problem.

chops369
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Homework Statement


How much milk at 11 degrees celsius was added to 0.16 kg of coffee at 91 degrees celsius if the final temperature is 76.8 degrees celsius?


Homework Equations


Well my teacher explained how to rearrange cm∆T = cm∆T to somehow come up with an equation to solve for the final temperature: Tf = T1 * m1 + T2 * m2 / (m1 + m2) How would I rearrange that to solve for one of the masses?


The Attempt at a Solution


No idea :(
 
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chops369 said:

Homework Statement


How much milk at 11 degrees celsius was added to 0.16 kg of coffee at 91 degrees celsius if the final temperature is 76.8 degrees celsius?

Homework Equations


Well my teacher explained how to rearrange cm∆T = cm∆T to somehow come up with an equation to solve for the final temperature: Tf = T1 * m1 + T2 * m2 / (m1 + m2) How would I rearrange that to solve for one of the masses?

The Attempt at a Solution


No idea :(

I think you are missing a parentheses.

Tf = (T1 * m1 + T2 * m2) / (m1 + m2)

You want to consider the rather aptly named weighted average to determine your answer. Remember though that temperatures need to be in Kelvin.

As to solving for a mass, it's your only unknown. Think Nike: Just do it.
 
I'm not too sure I catch your drift.
 
chops369 said:
I'm not too sure I catch your drift.

Just plug in the numbers and solve.
 

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