Two objects are placed in thermal contact and are allowed to come to equilibrium in isolation. the heat capacity of object a is three times the heat capacity of object b and the initial temperature of object a (ta) is twice the initial temperature of object b (tb). 1) what will the final temperature of the two-object system be?

Respuesta :

Given:
Ca = 3Cb                      (1)
where
Ca =  heat capacity of object A
Cb =  heat capacity f object B

Also,
Ta = 2Tb                     (2)
where
Ta = initial temperature of object A
Tb = initial temperature of object B.

Let
Tf =  final equilibrium temperature of both objects,
Ma = mass of object A,
Mb = mass of object B.

Assuming that all heat exchange occurs exclusively between the two objects, then energy balance requires that
Ma*Ca*(Ta - Tf) = Mb*Cb*(Tf - Tb)           (3)

Substitute (1) and (2) into (3).
Ma*(3Cb)*(2Tb - Tf) = Mb*Cb*(Tf - Tb)
3(Ma/Mb)*(2Tb - Tf) = Tf - Tb

Define k = Ma/Mb, the ratio f the masses.
Then
3k(2Tb - Tf) = Tf - Tb
Tf(1+3k) = Tb(1+6k)
Tf = [(1+6k)/(1+3k)]*Tb

Answer:
[tex] T_{f} =( \frac{1+6k}{1+3k} )T_{b}= \frac{1}{2}( \frac{1+6k}{1+3k})T_{a} [/tex]
where
[tex]k= \frac{M_{a}}{M_{b}} [/tex]