Question

A house is built with a granite countertop. The heat capacity of the countertop is 153.3 kJ/°C. A hot pan of water is placed on the countertop, and 4000 J of heat energy is transferred into the countertop. By how much does the temperature of the countertop change?

∆T = °C

Answer 1

The temperature of the granite countertop changes by approximately 0.0261 °C after it absorbs 4000 J of heat energy, based on its heat capacity of 153.3 kJ/°C.

Step-by-step explanation:

To calculate the temperature change (ΔT) of the granite countertop after absorbing 4000 J of heat energy, we use the provided heat capacity of the countertop and apply the formula ΔQ = C·ΔT, where ΔQ is the change in thermal energy, C is the heat capacity, and ΔT is the change in temperature.

Given that the heat capacity of the countertop is 153.3 kJ/°C, which is equivalent to 153300 J/°C, and the amount of heat transferred to the countertop is 4000 J, the temperature change can be calculated as follows: ΔT = ΔQ / C = 4000 J / 153300 J/°C = 0.0261 °C. Thus, the temperature of the countertop changes by approximately 0.0261 °C after absorbing 4000 J of heat energy.