Question

A thick wood slab that is initially at a uniform temperature of _________.

A) 0°C
B) 25°C
C) 50°C
D) 100°C

Answer 1

To calculate the specific heat of a material, you can use the equation Q = mcΔT, where Q is the heat added, m is the mass of the material, c is the specific heat capacity of the material, and ΔT is the change in temperature. By rearranging the equation and plugging in the given values, you can calculate the specific heat of the block. Comparing the specific heat to known values for different substances, it is most likely composed of iron.

Step-by-step explanation:

To calculate the specific heat of the material, we can use the equation:

Q = mcΔT

Where:

1. Q is the heat added
2. m is the mass of the material
3. c is the specific heat capacity of the material
4. ΔT is the change in temperature

Given that the mass of the block is 0.250 kg and the change in temperature is 65.0°C - 20.0°C = 45.0°C, we can rearrange the equation to solve for c:

c = Q / (mΔT)

Plugging in the values, we have:

c = 4.35 kJ / (0.250 kg * 45.0°C)

Simplifying the units, 4.35 kJ is equal to 4350 J. Therefore:

c = 4350 J / (0.250 kg * 45.0°C)

Solving for c, we get:

c = 96.67 J/°C

The specific heat of the material is 96.67 J/°C.

To identify the substance of which the block is most likely composed, we can compare the specific heat to known values for different substances. Aluminium has a specific heat of approximately 0.90 J/g°C, while water has a specific heat of 4.18 J/g°C. Since the specific heat of the block is much higher than both of these values, it is unlikely to be composed of aluminium or water. One possible substance with a higher specific heat is iron, which has a specific heat of approximately 0.45 J/g°C. Therefore, the block is most likely composed of iron.