Question

A 15.0 g piece of copper wire is heated, and the temperature of the wire changes from 12.0oC to 79.0oC. The amount of heat absorbed is 775 cal. What is the specific heat of copper?

Answer 1

Answer:

The specific heat of the copper is 0.771 cal/ grams °C

Explanation:

Step 1: Data given

Mass of the piece of copper = 15.0 grams

The temperature of the wire changes from 12.0 °C to 79.0 °C

The amount of heat absorbed is 775 cal

Step 2: Calculate the specific heat of copper

Q = m*c*ΔT

⇒with Q = the heat absorbed = 775 cal

⇒with m = the mass of the copper = 15.0 grams

⇒with c = the specific heat of copper = TO BE DETERMINED

⇒with ΔT = The change in temperature = 79.0 °C - 12.0 °C = 67.0 °C

775 cal = 15.0 grams * c * 67.0 °C

c = 0.771 cal/gm °C

The specific heat of the copper is 0.771 cal/ grams °C