Question

A 0.500 kg piece of granite is heated 21.5 °C by a sitting in the sun and thereby absorbs 8.5 kcal of heat. What is the specific heat of the granite rock?

Answer 1

Specific heat of the granite rock = 3387.05 Jkg⁻¹°C⁻¹

Step-by-step explanation:

We have heat required, H = mcΔT

Mass of granite, m = 0.500 kg

Specific heat of granite, c = ?

Change in temperature, ΔT = 21°C

Heat energy, H = 8.5 kcal = 8500 x 4.184 = 35564 J

Substituting

H = mcΔT

35564 = 0.500 x c x 21

c = 3387.05 Jkg⁻¹°C⁻¹

Specific heat of the granite rock = 3387.05 Jkg⁻¹°C⁻¹