A block of copper at an initial temperature of is placed in direct thermal contact…
PHYSICS · Multi-part · A Level · Physics · Further mechanics and thermal physics · Further mechanics and thermal physics
Problem
A 2.0kg block of copper at an initial temperature of 95∘C is placed in direct thermal contact with a 3.0kg copper block that is initially at 25∘C. The blocks are isolated from the environment so that energy exchange occurs only between the two blocks. The specific heat capacity of copper is c=390Jkg−1∘C−1.
(a) Determine the common equilibrium temperature reached by the two blocks after a long time has passed.
(b) Calculate the magnitude of the net energy transferred from the hotter block to the cooler block during the approach to equilibrium.
(c) Identify which block undergoes cooling and which undergoes heating, and justify your answer in terms of the sign of the temperature change for each block.