Answers

1) cp = 0.0042 J/gC

= 345.34g(250.00°C - 35.0°C)0.09J/g°C
from there its just simple Algebra.

Type 1

Step 1:  First read the question and try to understand what they are asking you.  Can you picture
a piece of aluminum foil that is taken out of an oven.  Imagine the aluminum losing heat to its
surroundings until the temperature goes from 415.0 oC to  22.0 oC.

Step 2:  Write the original formula.

q = m(T)Cp

Step 3:  List the known and unknown factors.   Looking at the units in the word problem will
help you determine which is which.

q=?
m = 23.984 g
T = (415.0 oC - 22.0 oC) = 393.0 oC     (remember, they asked for the change in temperature)
Cp =  0.902 J/g x oC

Step 4.  Substitute your values into the formula

q=?
m = 23.984 g
T = (415.0 oC - 22.0 oC) = 393.0 oC  
Cp =  0.902 J/g x oC

q = m(T)Cp

q = 23.984 g x 393.0 oC x 0.902 J/g x oC

Step 5.  Cross out units where possible, and solve for unknown.

q = 23.984 g x 393.0 oC x 0.902 J/g x oC

q = 8501.992224 J
Step 6.  Round to the correct number of significant digits and check to see that you answer
makes sense.

q = 8.50 x 103 J

Type 2

Step 1:  First read the question and try to understand what they are asking you.  Energy is being
used to change the temperature of a sample of water by 69.5 oC.  What size sample of water
would require 24 500 J to make that change?

Step 2:  Write the original formula, and then modify it isolate the unknown.

q = m(T)Cp

q =        m(T)Cp
---         -------------
(T)Cp     (T)Cp

m = q/(T)Cp

Step 3:  List the known and unknown factors.   Looking at the units in the word problem will
help you determine which is which.

q = 24 500 J
m=?
T = 69.5 oC
Cp = 4.18 J/g x oC

Step 4.  Substitute your values into the formula.

q = 24 500 J
m=?
T = 69.5 oC
Cp = 4.18 J/g x oC

m = q/(T)Cp

m = 24 500 J/69.5 oC x 4.18 J/g x oC

Step 5.  Cross out units where possible, and solve for unknown.

m = 24 500 J/69.5 oC x 4.18 J/g x oC

 m = 84.3344463184 g

Step 6.  Round to the correct number of significant digits and check to see that you answer
makes sense.

m = 84.3 g

Type 3

Step 1:  First read the question and try to understand what they are asking you.  Here they are
heating up a sample of water.   They want to know how many degrees increase will result from
850 calories of heat.   Further, they want to know the final temperature of the water, which will
simply be equal to the initial temperature + the change in temperature.

Step 2:  Write the original formula, and then modify it isolate the unknown.

q = m(T)Cp

q = m(T)Cp
----  ---------------
m Cp     m Cp

T = q/m x Cp

Step 3:  List the known and unknown factors.   Looking at the units in the word problem will
help you determine which is which.

q = 850 cal
m = 250 g
T = ?
Cp = 1.00 cal/g x oC

Step 4.  Substitute your values into the formula

q = 850 cal
m = 250 g
T = ?
Cp = 1.00 cal/g x oC

T = q/m x Cp

T = 850 cal/250 g x 1.00 cal/g x oC

Step 5.  Cross out units where possible, and solve for unknown.
 T = 850 cal/250 g x 1.00 cal/g x oC

Answer to step a) T = 3.4 oC

Answer to step b) final temperature = 13.0 oC + 3.4 oC = 16.4 oC

Type 4

Step 1:  First read the question and try to understand what they are asking you.  Specific heat is a
concept that some students struggle with.  The question is about finding the specific heat by
seeing how much the temperature changes when a certain amount of heat is applied.   Metal
heats up faster than water because it has a low specific heat.  If a material has a low specific heat,
the temperature change will be greater for a given amount of heat, when all other things are
equal.

Step 2:  Write the original formula, and then modify it to isolate the unknown.

q = m(T)Cp

q = m(T)Cp
---   -------------
m(T)     m(T)

Cp = q/m(T)

Step 3:  List the known and unknown factors.   Looking at the units in the word problem will
help you determine which is which.

q = 34 700 J
m = 350 g
T = (173.0oC - 22.0oC) = 151.0 oC
Cp = ?

Step 4.  Substitute your values into the formula

q = 34 700 J
m = 350 g
T = (173.0oC - 22.0oC) = 151.0 oC
Cp = ?

Cp = q/m(T)

Cp = 34 700 J/350 g x 151.0 oC

Step 5.  Cross out units where possible, and solve for unknown.

Cp = 34 700 J/350 g x 151.0 oC

Cp = 0.65657521286 J/g x oC

Step 6.  Round to the correct number of significant digits and check to see that you answer
makes sense. 

Cp = 0.66 J/g x oC