Verify Final Temperature of Cu-Water System?

Click For Summary

Homework Help Overview

The problem involves a thermal equilibrium scenario between a copper mass and water, where the original poster seeks verification of the final temperature calculation. The subject area pertains to thermodynamics and heat transfer principles.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Assumption checking

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • The original poster presents an equation for heat transfer and attempts to solve for the final temperature. Some participants question the units of the final answer, specifically whether it should be in Joules or degrees Celsius.

Discussion Status

Participants are actively discussing the correct units for the final temperature, with some clarifying that the answer represents a temperature rather than energy. There is a focus on ensuring that units are consistently applied throughout the calculations.

Contextual Notes

There is an emphasis on the importance of including units in equations to avoid dimensional mismatches and facilitate conversions. The original poster's requirement for the answer to be in Joules is noted as a point of confusion.

pmalayavech
Messages
14
Reaction score
0

Homework Statement



Need a second person to help verify if answer is correct.

Copper with a mass of 300 g initially at 200 °C is added to water with an initial temperature of 10 °C and mass of 500 g. What is the final temperature of the system when they are in equilibrium?

ANSWER must be in JOULES

My variables

Cu specific heat: 385.112 J/kg C

Water specificheat: 4186 J

Homework Equations



Mm Cm (Tm - Tf) = Mw Cw (Tf-Tw)

The Attempt at a Solution



Mm Cm (Tm - Tf) = Mw Cw (Tf-Tw)

I convert g to kg for mass
500g to .500kg and 300g to .300kgnow plug equation and work the algebraic equation

(.300) (385.112)(200-tf) = (.500)(4186)(tf-10)

to

(23106.72-115.5336Tf)=(2093Tf-20930)

to

4036.72 = 2208.5336 Tf

to

19.93934799 = Tf

Tf= 19.9 J/kg C
 
Last edited:
Physics news on Phys.org


Get the same answer but units oC.
 


so its not in Joules? but Celsius?
 


pmalayavech said:
so its not in Joules? but Celsius?
Yes, the answer is a temperature, so it cannot be in Joules.
It is a good idea to include the units in the equations all the way through. This helps in two ways. It can show up dimensional mismatches (like Joules versus degrees) and also aids in conversion between different units of the same dimension (oC v. oF).
 

Similar threads

Replies
7
Views
2K
  • · Replies 4 ·
Replies
4
Views
2K
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
4K
  • · Replies 5 ·
Replies
5
Views
6K
  • · Replies 11 ·
Replies
11
Views
5K
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
2K
Replies
2
Views
2K
  • · Replies 16 ·
Replies
16
Views
3K
  • · Replies 5 ·
Replies
5
Views
5K
  • · Replies 14 ·
Replies
14
Views
2K