Question

A 0.50-kg block of material is heated from 20° to 35°C by the addition of 420 cal of heat. Calculate
the specific heat of the block

Answer 1

To find the specific heat of the block, we can use the formula:
Q = mcΔT
Where:
Q = heat added to the block (in calories)
m = mass of the block (in kg)
c = specific heat of the block (in cal/g°C)
ΔT = change in temperature (in °C)
Given:
m = 0.50 kg
Q = 420 cal
ΔT = 35°C - 20°C = 15°C
Plugging in the values:
420 cal = (0.50 kg) * c * 15°C
420 cal = 7.5c
c = 420 cal / 7.5
c = 56 cal/kg°C
Therefore, the specific heat of the block is 56 cal/kg°C.