# Thermo physics question

1. Jan 22, 2004

### PrudensOptimus

A 1.0 g lead bullet at 33°C is fired at a speed of 250 m/s into a large block of ice at 0°C, in which it becomes embedded. What quantity of ice melts?

Heres what I have:

From &Delta;Q = mc&Delta;T,

mA = dQ/[c(dT)]

And from &Delta;QA = -&Delta;QB

...

Further cogitations are in process. Meanwhile please respond, thanks.

2. Jan 22, 2004

### KLscilevothma

Re: Thermo

1. The kinetic energy in the bullet is changed to internal energy (increase in temperature) when it stops inside the ice block. You can use the following formula to calculate the change in temperature of the bullet.
1/2 mv2 = mcL&Delta;T
So the final temperatre of the bullet when embeded inside the ice block = 33 + &Delta;T

2. Assume the temperature in the ice block stays at 0°C.
The final temperature of the bullet will be 0°C, which means the energy released when the bullet is cooled from (33 + &Delta;T)°C to 0°C is used to melt the ice block.
So you can use the following forumla to find out the quantity of ice melted.
mLcL(33 + &Delta;T) = miceLice

Where
mL = mass of the lead bullet
cL = specific heat capacity of the bullet
mice = mass of ice melted
Lice = latent heat of fusion of ice

Last edited: Jan 23, 2004
3. Jan 24, 2004

### PrudensOptimus

Re: Re: Thermo

How is the Final Temperature of the Lead bullet 33 + &Delta;T?

By solving the KE = Q equation, i found Tf = (v^2/2c) + 33Celsius.

4. Jan 24, 2004

### PrudensOptimus

93.781437125748502994011976047904 grams is the answer i got. not sure if i did it right or not.

5. Jan 30, 2004

### PrudensOptimus

can someone do this problem with another approach pls?

6. Jan 30, 2004

### ShawnD

Re: Thermo

All the changes in energy add up to 0 so base an equation around that using all changes in energy.

$$mc \Delta T + mL_v - \frac{1}{2}mv^2 = 0$$

Check your signs. Terms gaining energy should be positive, losing energy should be negative. The velocity part is a loss in energy so that term is negative. Changes in temperature will always work themselves out with the proper sign; just be careful of latent heats and kinetic energy.

mcT is the bullet's temperature change, mLv is the ice melting and 1/2mv^2 is the kinetic energy of the bullet. From there just start filling in the equation. The only variable is the mass of ice melting.

Last edited: Jan 30, 2004