Final answer:
The correct rearrangement of the equation to find the mass of a substance based on the thermal energy exchanged, temperature change, and specific heat is m = qΔT/c. This is used in physics when dealing with calorimetry problems.
Step-by-step explanation:
The student is dealing with a physics problem that involves the relationship between mass (m), thermal energy (q), temperature change (ΔT), and specific heat (c). The correct rearrangement of the equation to find the mass based on the given parameters is option 1: m = qΔT/c. This equation is based on the principle of calorimetry, where the mass of a substance can be calculated by dividing the amount of thermal energy exchanged (q) by the product of specific heat (c) and the change in temperature (ΔT).
To find the quantity Eo, which is the initial energy, you would use the equation Eo = mc², where m is mass and c is the speed of light. When dealing with changes in energy, the equation ΔE = mc²ΔT is used, where ΔE is the change in energy, m is the mass, c is the speed of light, and ΔT is the change in temperature. It's important to substitute the known quantities and solve for the unknown variable using the relevant equation.
In problems where a substance gains or loses thermal energy, one must account for whether the temperature increases or decreases, which affects whether q has a positive or negative value.
In any physics calculation, it is crucial to check if the answer is reasonable and to make sure that all the units are consistent and properly applied.