Question

In the method of mixtures, a hot metal is dropped into cold water and the mixture reaches a final temperature. Which principle is used to find the specific heat of the metal?

Options

• Heat lost by water = Heat gained by metal

• Heat lost by metal = Heat gained by water

• Total heat of the system increases

• Heat lost by metal = Work done by water

Answer 1

Heat lost by metal = Heat gained by water

Explanation:

Using the equation m₁c₁ΔT₁ = m₂c₂ΔT₂​, the heat lost by the hotter substance (metal) equals the heat gained by the cooler substance (water). This conservation of heat energy allows us to calculate the unknown specific heat capacity of the metal.