Answer to Question #158195 in Molecular Physics | Thermodynamics for Harshita

Question

The human body has an average specific heat capacity of 3500 J /(kg °C). If a 65 kg physics student drinks a can of coke (200 Cal ; 1Cal = 4186 J ) and all of its energy is converted to thermal energy , by how much would body temperature increase?

Answer 1

The amount of energy required to rise the temperature of the body of mass $m = 65kg$ by $\Delta T$ is given with the following formula:

$$Q =cm\Delta T$$

where $c = 3500J/(kg\cdot \degree C)$ is the specific heat capacity. Since $Q = 200cal = 200\cdot 4186J = 837200J$, obtain:

$$\Delta T = \dfrac{Q}{cm}\\ \Delta T = \dfrac{837200}{3500\cdot 65} = 3.68\degree C$$

Answer. $3.68\degree C$.