High School

1.2 kg of gold at 300 K comes in thermal contact with 2.2 kg of copper at 400 K. The specific heats of gold (Au) and copper (Cu) are 126 J/kg-K and 386 J/kg-K, respectively. What equilibrium temperature do they reach?

Answer :

Final answer:

The equilibrium temperature of gold and copper in thermal contact can be found using the formula for heat transfer and the law of energy conservation. By setting the heat gained by gold equal to the heat lost by copper and solving for the final temperature, we can find the equilibrium temperature.

Explanation:

In physics, the concept of heat transfer is used to find the equilibrium temperature when two substances come into thermal contact. In this scenario, the substances of interest are gold and copper. Using the formula for heat absorbed or lost, q = mcΔT, where m is the mass, c is the specific heat, and ΔT is the change in temperature, we can set the heat gained by gold equal to the heat lost by copper to find their equilibrium temperature.

The equation would be:

(1.2kg) * (126 J/kg-K) * (T_final - 300K) = (2.2kg) * (386 J/kg-K) * (400K - T_final)

Solving for T_final will give the final equilibrium temperature. This equation assumes that no heat is lost to the surroundings, and that the heat gained by one substance is equal to the heat lost by the other (the law of energy conservation).

Learn more about Heat Transfer here:

https://brainly.com/question/13433948

#SPJ11