Final answer:
To determine the heat capacity of an unknown block, we use the heat transferred to, or from the water, assuming the specific heat capacity of water is 4.18 J/g°C. We apply the conservation of energy principle to calculate the specific heat capacity of the block based on the known mass and temperature change of the water and the block.
Step-by-step explanation:
To find the heat capacity of an unknown block by immersing it in water, one can use the principle of calorimetry. This principle relies on the conservation of energy, which states that the heat lost by one body is the heat gained by another when they reach thermal equilibrium. To perform the calculation, you must have the mass of the water, the initial temperatures of both the block and the water, and the final equilibrium temperature. The specific heat capacity of water is commonly known (4.18 J/g°C). By setting up the heat lost by the water equal to the heat gained by the block, as shown in the equation Qwater = -Qblock, you can solve for the block's heat capacity.
The equation to be used is:
Qblock = mblock · cblock · ΔTblock = - (mwater · cwater · ΔTwater)
where Q is the heat transfer, m is the mass, c is the specific heat capacity, and AT is the change in temperature. We assume the system is isolated and the heat lost by the water is equal in magnitude and opposite in sign to the heat gained by the block: cblock = - (mwater · cwater · ΔTwater) / (mblock · ΔTblock).
By rearranging the equation, the unknown specific heat capacity of the block can be extracted when all other values are known. This is an essential concept in calorimetry and thermal physics.