Final answer:
The temperature rise due to a short circuit can be calculated by first determining the energy released using the formula P = V^2/R and converting the energy to calories. Then, the change in temperature is found using the formula ΔT = E/(m * C). Whether this temperature rise is damaging depends on the materials' heat tolerance.
Step-by-step explanation:
To calculate the temperature rise in a short circuit situation, we use the relationship of electrical power, which is P = V2/R, where P is the power in watts, V is the voltage in volts, and R is the resistance in ohms. Given the voltage (V) is 120 volts and the resistance (R) is 0.500 ohms, we find that power P = (1202)/0.500 = 28800 watts or 28.8 kilowatts. Since 1 watt is equivalent to 0.239005736 calories per second, the energy (E) released in 0.0500 seconds is E = P * t * 0.239005736, where t is the time in seconds. The energy absorption results in heating, which increases the temperature of the materials around the short circuit. This increase in temperature (ΔT) can be calculated using the formula ΔT = E/(m * C), where m is the mass of the material and C is the specific heat capacity. Given that m = 2.00 g and C = 0.200 cal/g°C, we find the temperature rise in the material. Finally, one has to assess whether this temperature rise is likely to be damaging, which depends on the heat tolerance of the surrounding materials.