Question

You find a 1979 copper penny (pre-1982 pennies are pure copper) in the snow and pick it up. How much heat does the penny absorb as it warms from the temperature of the snow, -5.0∘C to the temperature of your body, 37∘C. Assume the penny is pure copper and has a mass of 3.10 g. (The specific heat capacity of copper is 0.385 J/g∘C.)

Answer 1

50.127 J

Step-by-step explanation:

The following data were obtained from the question:

Initial temperature (T₁) = –5 °C

Final temperature (T₂) = 37 °C

Mass (M) = 3.10 g

Specific heat capacity (C) = 0.385 J/gºC

Heat (Q) absorbed =?

Next, we shall determine the change in temperature. This can be obtained as follow:

Initial temperature (T₁) = –5 °C

Final temperature (T₂) = 37 °C

Change in temperature (ΔT) =?

ΔT = T₂ – T₁

ΔT = 37 – (–5)

ΔT = 37 + 5

ΔT = 42 °C

Finally, we shall determine the heat absorbed. This can be obtained as follow:

Mass (M) = 3.10 g

Specific heat capacity (C) = 0.385 J/gºC

Change in temperature (ΔT) = 42 °C

Heat (Q) absorbed =?

Q = MCΔT

Q = 3.10 × 0.385 × 42

Q = 50.127 J

Thus, the heat absorbed is 50.127 J.