Calorie and Specific Heat in Thermodynamics

Exploring the Relationship Between Calorie and Specific Heat in Thermodynamics

In the realm of thermodynamics, specific heat is a crucial concept measured in calories, indicating the amount of heat energy required to raise the temperature of a unit mass by one degree Celsius. While the calorie is not part of the International System of Units (SI), it is a vital unit of measurement in this context, equivalent to 4.184 joules.

The concept of specific heat refers to how much heat is needed to raise the temperature of a substance by one degree. It can be calculated using the formula: cs = Q / (m ∙ Δt), where Q is the heat energy in joules, m is the mass of the substance, and Δt is the temperature change.

Conservation of energy principles dictate that the heat transferred from one system must be equal to the heat gained by another: qsystem + qsurroundings = 0. These fundamental laws play a significant role in predicting various values in the interaction between a system and its surroundings.

Practical Applications

To illustrate these concepts, let’s delve into some practical exercises:

1.

Calculating Heat Requirements

: Determine the heat needed to raise the temperature of 100 grams of lead (Pb) by 20°C, given the specific heat capacity of lead as 0.128 J/g ∙ K.

Q = 0.128 J/g ∙ K ∙ 100 g ∙ 20 = 256 J

2.

Temperature Change Analysis

: Find the final temperature when 130 grams of copper at 120°C are immersed in 300 grams of water at 20°C. The specific heat capacities of copper and water are 0.387 J/g∙K and 4.184 J/g∙K, respectively.

By equating the heat lost by the copper to the heat gained by the water, the final system temperature can be determined.

In conclusion, grasping the concepts of calorie and specific heat in thermodynamics proves invaluable in various practical scenarios, particularly when calculating heat energy requirements and temperature alterations in different systems.

GLI ULTIMI ARGOMENTI

Leggi anche

Niobato di sodio emerge come materiale chiave per innovazioni tecnologiche, con applicazioni in campi avanzati.

Il niobato di sodio (NaNbO₃) è un ossido inorganico appartenente alla classe dei niobati alcalini, noto per le sue eccellenti proprietà ferroelettriche, antiferroelettriche, piezoelettriche...

Svolta rivoluzionaria nella ricerca su N,N-dimetilacetammide

La N,N-dimetilacetammide (DMA) sta conquistando il mondo della chimica industriale come un vero campione, con la sua formula molecolare C₄H₉NO e struttura CH₃CON(CH₃)₂ che...

Approccio Hartree-Fock in meccanica quantistica.

Il Metodo Hartree-Fock nella Chimica Quantistica La chimica quantistica computazionale si avvale del metodo Hartree-Fock come base essenziale. Spesso, questo approccio funge da punto di...
è in caricamento