Question

In a model solar panel the copper pipes have a mass of 0.4 kg and contain 0.6 kg of water. the initial temperature of the pipes and water is 15°c. calculate how much energy was supplied by the sun if the final temperature of the panel is 30°c.

Answer 1

To find the energy supplied by the sun to heat copper pipes and water, we add the energy required to heat each material separately using the formula Q = m ⋅ c ⋅ ΔT.

Step-by-step explanation:

To calculate the energy supplied by the sun to heat the copper pipes and water from 15°C to 30°C, we use the specific heat capacity formula Q = m ⋅ c ⋅ ΔT, where Q is the heat energy, m is the mass, c is the specific heat capacity, and ΔT is the change in temperature.

Both copper and water have specific heat capacities: for copper, it is approximately 385 J/(kg°C), and for water, it is 4,180 J/(kg°C). The total energy Q_total is the sum of the energy required to heat the copper Q_copper and the water Q_water.

The calculation would be as follows: Q_copper = 0.4 kg ⋅ 385 J/(kg°C) ⋅ (30°C - 15°C) and Q_water = 0.6 kg ⋅ 4,180 J/(kg°C) ⋅ (30°C - 15°C). After performing the calculations, we add these values to obtain the total energy supplied by the sun, expressed in joules.