What quantity is NOT needed to calculate the specific heat of copper when measuring it by cooling it in water?

What quantity is NOT needed to calculate the specific heat of copper when measuring it by cooling it in water?

• A. Mass of the water
• B. Initial temperatures of copper and water
• C. Final equilibrium temperature
• D. Time taken to reach equilibrium

Answer: (D)

To calculate the specific heat of copper when measuring its cooling in water, it's important to understand the heat transfer that occurs between the two substances until they reach thermal equilibrium. The specific heat equation relates the heat lost or gained by a substance to its mass, specific heat capacity, and the change in temperature. In this context, for copper to cool in water, you need to know the mass of the water, the initial temperatures of both the copper and water before they come into contact, and the final equilibrium temperature after they have exchanged heat. The mass of the water is required because the amount of heat transferred will depend on how much water is present to absorb the heat from the copper. The initial temperatures are crucial because the temperature difference drives the heat transfer and also allows you to calculate how much heat has been lost by the copper and gained by the water. The equilibrium temperature is necessary to determine the final state of the system and ensure that energy conservation is accurately represented. The time taken to reach equilibrium, while it may provide insights into the rate of heat transfer, does not impact the calculations for specific heat. The specific heat depends solely on the mass, temperature changes, and specific heat capacities involved, rather than the period over which the cooling occurs.

To calculate the specific heat of copper when measuring its cooling in water, it's important to understand the heat transfer that occurs between the two substances until they reach thermal equilibrium.

The specific heat equation relates the heat lost or gained by a substance to its mass, specific heat capacity, and the change in temperature. In this context, for copper to cool in water, you need to know the mass of the water, the initial temperatures of both the copper and water before they come into contact, and the final equilibrium temperature after they have exchanged heat.

The mass of the water is required because the amount of heat transferred will depend on how much water is present to absorb the heat from the copper. The initial temperatures are crucial because the temperature difference drives the heat transfer and also allows you to calculate how much heat has been lost by the copper and gained by the water. The equilibrium temperature is necessary to determine the final state of the system and ensure that energy conservation is accurately represented.

The time taken to reach equilibrium, while it may provide insights into the rate of heat transfer, does not impact the calculations for specific heat. The specific heat depends solely on the mass, temperature changes, and specific heat capacities involved, rather than the period over which the cooling occurs.