Question

A mass M of solid metal at temperature T is put into 3.0kg of water which is initially at 90◦C. The metal and water are placed in an insulated container. The specific heat for water is 4186 J/ kg K . The metal has a melting point of 60◦C. The latent heat associated with the solid-liquid transition of the metal is 7.5 × 10^4 J/kg . The specific heat for the metal is 600 J/kg in the solid phase and 400 J/kg in the liquid phase.

Suppose that the initial temperature of the metal is T = −20◦C and that M = 15kg. What is the final equilibrium temperature?

The correct answer if 44 degrees Celsius. How is this answer achieved?

Answer 1