Question

Explain how heat capacity of a solid can be determined by the method of mixture.

Answer 1

1. The solid object whose specific heat is to be determined is heated and then put in water in a calorimeter.
2. Solid object loses heat energy to water and calorimeter till temperature of all three become equal.
3. According to principle of heat exchange, 
   Heat lost by a solid object (Q) = Heat gained by calorimeter (Q₁) + Heat gained by water in the calorimeter (Q₂)
   This means,
   mass of the solid object × its specific heat × in its temperature
   = (mass of the calorimeter × its specific heat × increase in its temperature) + (mass of the water × its specific heat × increase in its temperature).
4. Using this equation, if the specific heat of water and calorimeter are known and other physical quantities are measured accurately, the specific heat of solid object can be determined.