Water equivalent of calorimeter

[rasen58]

Homework Statement

The water equivalent in kg, of a calorimeter having a mass of 0.3 kg and a specific heat of 0.2 is

Homework Equations

q=cmT

The Attempt at a Solution

I wanted to set cmT = cmT for the water and calorimeter, but I don't know what the equilibrium temperature is.
So what do I do?

 

[Bystander]

I wanted to set cmT = cmT for the water and calorimeter

That's good. Simplify what you set up, and you're in business.

 

[rasen58]

Can I cancel out the T's then?
In that case, I would have c1m1 = c2m2
(0.2)(0.3) = (4.186)m2
m2 = 0.014 kg

But the answer says it's 0.06 kg

 

[Bystander]

Can I cancel out the T's then?

Yes.

But the answer says it's 0.06 kg

You have met one of many sloppily stated questions you'll run into in your life. "Specific heat" has been conflated with "Specific gravity." Since water has a specific gravity of "One," the author of the question has chosen "One" as the specific heat for water as well. In kcal/kg, yes, but there is no specification of units in the problem statement.

Your understanding is correct, and your application of that understanding is correct.