How To Solve Calorimetry Problems

To do so, the heat is exchanged with a calibrated object (calorimeter).

The change in temperature of the measuring part of the calorimeter is converted into the amount of heat (since the previous calibration was used to establish its heat capacity).

Assume the specific heat of steel is approximately the same as that for iron (Table 1 in Chapter 5.1 Energy Basics), and that all heat transfer occurs between the rebar and the water (there is no heat exchange with the surroundings).

Solution The temperature of the water increases from 24.0 °C to 42.7 °C, so the water absorbs heat.

If we place the metal in the water, heat will flow from M to W.

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The temperature of M will decrease, and the temperature of W will increase, until the two substances have the same temperature—that is, when they reach thermal equilibrium (Figure 4).

Calculate the initial temperature of the piece of copper.

Assume that all heat transfer occurs between the copper and the water.

That heat came from the piece of rebar, which initially was at a higher temperature.

Assuming that all heat transfer was between the rebar and the water, with no heat “lost” to the surroundings, then = 248 °C, so the initial temperature of the rebar was 248 °C.