Suppose a 50-g block of silver (specific heat = 0.2350 J/g·°C) at 100°C is placed in contact with a 50-g block of iron (specific heat = 0.4494 J/g·°C) at 0°C, and the two blocks are insulated from the rest of the universe. The final temperature of the two blocks
A) will be higher than 50°C.
B) will be lower than 50°C.
C) will be exactly 50°C.
D) is unrelated to the composition of the blocks.
E) cannot be predicted.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The final temperature will be lower than 50°C because the specific heat of iron is higher than that of silver, meaning iron requires more energy to change its temperature. Therefore, when the two blocks reach thermal equilibrium, the final temperature will be closer to the initial temperature of the iron block, which is lower than 50°C.

Suppose a 50-G Block of Silver (Specific Heat = 0