Two solid cylinders, Sample A and Sample B

PHYSICS · Multi-part · A Level · Physics · Further mechanics and thermal physics · Further mechanics and thermal physics

Problem

Two solid cylinders, Sample A and Sample B, are made of different metals. Each cylinder has a mass of

0.50\,\text{kg}

and initially rests at

20\,^{\circ}\text{C}

. A laboratory heat lamp supplies

45\,\text{kJ}

of thermal energy to each sample. • Sample A is aluminum with a specific heat of

900\,\text{J}\,(\text{kg}\,^{\circ}\text{C})^{-1}

. • Sample B is cast iron with a specific heat of

450\,\text{J}\,(\text{kg}\,^{\circ}\text{C})^{-1}

. Assume no energy is lost to the surroundings. (a) Describe which sample experiences the greater temperature increase after the heating period and explain the reasoning based on the tabulated material properties. (b) Suppose instead that Sample A has twice the mass of Sample B while the same

45\,\text{kJ}

of energy is delivered to each. Discuss how this change in mass would influence the relative temperature rises of the two samples and provide a qualitative justification.

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