Question

A 1.0 kg block of steel is heated in an oven to a temperature of 200 °C. It is then dropped into a tank containing 100 kg of water.                                                                                                                     

The experiment is then repeated using a 1.0 kg block of aluminum.

Which metal block will cause a bigger rise in the temperature of the water? Explain your answer.

Answer 1

A metal block with a higher heat capacity will lead to a greater increase in the temperature of the water.

$c_{steel}=560\ (J/{kg\cdot K})<c_{Al}=920\ (J/{kg\cdot K})$

The aluminum block will cause a bigger rise in the temperature of the water.