Question

A calorimeter is used to determine the specific heat capacity of a test metal. If the specific heat capacity of water is known, what quantities must be measured?

Answer 1

initial and final temperatures of both the water and metal, mass of the metal, and mass of the water

Step-by-step explanation:

Heat lost by the metal,
`Q = mc(t_(2) - t_(1))`

Heat gained by the water in the calorimeter,
`Q_(w) = m_(w)c_(w)(t_(2w) - t_(1w))`

For energy to be conserved in the system, the heat lost by the metal will equal the heat gain by the water in the calorimeter.

`mc(t_(2) - t_(1)) = m_(w)c_(w)(t_(2w) - t_(1w))`

Where,

m is the mass of the metal

c is specific heat capacity of the metal

t₂ is the final temperature of the metal

t₁ is the initial temperature of the metal

`m_(w)` is the mass of the water

`c_(w)` is specific heat capacity of water

`t_(2w)` is the final temperature of water

`t_(1w)` is the initial temperature of water

From the question given, specific heat capacity of the water is known, the quantities to be measured are;

Initial and final temperatures of both the water and metal,

Mass of the metal, and mass of the water