An electrical heater supplies 500J of heat energy to a copper cylinder of mass 32.4g Find the increase in temperature of the cylinder. (Specific heat capacity of copper = 385 J*kg^-1*Celsius^-1

The temperature of a body of mass m and specific heat capacity c rises by change in temperature (delta)T when an amount of heat Q is added to it (Q = mc(delta)T). From the equation we see that the change in temperature is simply equal to the heat divided by the mass times the specific heat capacity of copper ((delta)T = Q / m*c). Now we can just plug in the numbers to find the answer. (Note that the mass is not given in SI units and we have to convert it 32.4g = 0.0324kg). From here follows that the increase in temperature is equal to 500 / 0.0324 * 385 or 40.0834, which we can round to 40.1 degrees Celsius.

VB
Answered by Viktoria B. Physics tutor

9929 Views

See similar Physics A Level tutors

Related Physics A Level answers

All answers ▸

You are sitting in a boat on a lake, you have with you in the boat a large rock. You throw the rock out of the boat and it sinks to the bottom of the lake, does the water level of the lake go up, down or stay the same?


Explain the forces involved in a pendulum set up.


What is the difference between electromotive force and potential difference?


Explain the change of quark character associated with the beta-plus decay and deduce the equation.


We're here to help

contact us iconContact ustelephone icon+44 (0) 203 773 6020
Facebook logoInstagram logoLinkedIn logo

MyTutor is part of the IXL family of brands:

© 2026 by IXL Learning