Fundamentals of Physics Extended (10th Edition)

Published by Wiley
ISBN 10: 1-11823-072-8
ISBN 13: 978-1-11823-072-5

Chapter 18 - Temperature, Heat, and the First Law of Thermodynamics - Questions - Page 540: 11

Answer

We can rank the graphs according to the specific heats of the objects: $c \gt b \gt a$

Work Step by Step

We can find an expression for the specific heat in each case: $Q = cm~\Delta T$ $c = \frac{Q}{m~\Delta T}$ Note that the mass $m$ is equal in all three cases. If the temperature of the water increases more and more, then the value of $Q$ is greater. In graph a, $\Delta T$ is the largest and $Q$ is the smallest. Thus the specific heat of a is the smallest. In graph c, $\Delta T$ is the smallest and $Q$ is the greatest. Thus the specific heat of c is the greatest. We can rank the graphs according to the specific heats of the objects: $c \gt b \gt a$
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