Question

The specific heat of soil is 0.20 kcal/kg*C and the specific heat of water is 1.00 kcal/kg*C. This means that if 1 kg of soil and 1 kg of water each receive 1 kcal of energy, ideally.

Answer 1

Answer: The soil will be
`4\°C` warmer than the water.

Step-by-step explanation:

The heat (thermal energy) absorbed can be found using the following equation:

`Q=m.C.\Delta T`

Where:

`Q` is the heat

`m` is the mass of the element

`C` is the specific heat capacity of the material.

`\Delta T` is the variation in temperature

In the case of soil we have:

`Q_(soil)=m_(soil).C_(soil).\Delta T_(soil)` (1)

Where:

`Q_(soil)=1 kcal`

`m_(soil)=1 kg`

`C_(soil)=0.2 kcal/kg \°C`

`\Delta T_(soil)`

In the case of water we have:

`Q_(water)=m_(water).C_(water).\Delta T_(water)` (2)

Where:

`Q_(water)=1 kcal`

`m_(water)=1 kg`

`C_(water)=1 kcal/kg \°C`

`\Delta T_(water)`

Isolating
`\Delta T` from both equations:

`\Delta T_(soil)=(Q_(soil))/(m_(soil).C_(soil))` (3)

`\Delta T_(soil)=(1 kcal)/(1 kg(0.2 kcal/kg \°C))`

`\Delta T_(soil)=5\°C` (4)

`\Delta T_(water)=(Q_(water))/(m_(water).C_(water))` (5)

`\Delta T_(water)=(1 kcal)/(1 kg(1 kcal/kg \°C))`

`\Delta T_(water)=1\°C` (6)

Comparing (4) and (6) we can find the soil will be
`4\°C` warmer than the water.