Final answer:
Physics questions regarding heat transfer between copper and water involve the concepts of specific heat, entropy change, and equilibrium temperature. Entropy changes depend on temperature change and specific heat. For copper and water to achieve the same temperature change, the ratio of their masses relies on their specific heats, with copper requiring less energy for a temperature increase than water.
Step-by-step explanation:
In physics, when considering heat transfer between different materials such as copper and water, key concepts come into play such as specific heat capacity, entropy change, and equilibrium temperature. When heat transfers between materials, we need to consider their masses, specific heat capacities, and the initial and final temperatures to determine the final system temperature. Specific heat is a measure of how much energy is needed to raise the temperature of a given mass of the substance by one degree Celsius. Copper has a lower specific heat compared to water, meaning it requires less energy to increase its temperature.
Regarding the students' questions:
- The entropy change of the copper and the water when they reach thermal equilibrium would depend on their respective temperature changes and their specific heat capacities.
- The ratio of the mass of copper to water for identical changes in temperature, given identical amounts of heat transfer, depends on their respective specific heat capacities. The specific heat capacity of copper is less than that of water, meaning for equal amounts of heat transferred, copper will undergo a larger temperature change than water.
- For the final temperature of a system with aluminum and copper thrown into water, we use the masses, specific heat capacities, and initial temperatures of each substance. The final temperature can be calculated by setting up an energy balance equation and solving for the temperature that equates to the heat gained and lost by each component of the system.
Understanding the thermal properties of copper and water is fundamental when predicting the outcome of thermal interactions in a physically isolated system.