Question

Hot metal (85 °C) is placed in water (20 °C). When the system reaches thermal
equilibrium, the temperature is 22.25 °C. Why is the temperature at thermal equilibrium
so close to that of water's initial temperature?

Answer 1

The equilibrium temperature is close to the initial temperature of water because water has a greater heat capacity compared to the hot metal, and it will require more energy to raise the low temperature of water.

The given parameters;

• initial temperature of the hot metal, t₁ = 85 ⁰C
• initial temperature of the water, t₂ = 20 ⁰C
• equilibrium temperature of the mixture, t = 22.25 ⁰C

According to principle of conservation of energy, the heat lost by a hot body is equal to heat gained by a cold body.

$Q_{hot} = Q_{cold}$

The equilibrium temperature is close to the initial temperature of water because water has a greater heat capacity compared to the hot metal, and it will require more energy to raise the low temperature of water.

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