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

Answer

  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 $(Q_1) +$ Heat gained by water in the calorimeter $(Q_2)$
    This means,
    mass of the solid object $\times $ its specific heat $\times $ in its temperature
    $= ($mass of the calorimeter $\times $ its specific heat $\times $ increase in its temperature$) + ($mass of the water $\times $ its specific heat $\times $ 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.

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