Question

A student mixed 20 g of 45°C water with 60 g of 75°C water. The final temperature was 32°C. Calculate the change in temperature for the cold water.

a) -13°C
b) 3°C
c) 43°C
d) 117°C

Answer 1

The question seems to contain an error since the final temperature of the mixture is below the initial temperature of the cold water. The final temperature after mixing should be between 45°C and 75°C, indicating that none of the answer choices are correct.

Step-by-step explanation:

To calculate the change in temperature for the cold water, we must recognize that the final temperature mentioned (32°C) is likely an error, since it’s below the initial temperature of the cold water (45°C). Assuming the question meant that the water mixed reached thermal equilibrium, the final temperature must be between 45°C and 75°C, the initial temperatures of the cold and hot water respectively. We are not given the actual final temperature after mixing but we can infer it must be higher than 45°C, which means that there's no correct answer among the choices provided since they all indicate a final temperature below 45°C.