Question

Calculate the change in temperature of the water in the calorimeter after each metal sample was added. Record these values in Table B of your Student Guide.

What is the change in temperature for the water in the calorimeter after the aluminum wire was added?
C

What is the change in temperature for the water in the calorimeter after the steel wire was added?
C

What is the change in temperature for the water in the calorimeter after the lead pellets were added?
C

Answer 1

I can’t compute the actual ΔT values without your measured temperatures. Here’s how to get them and an example so you can fill Table B.

How to calculate
- ΔT = T_after − T_before
- T_before is the water temperature immediately before you add the metal sample.
- T_after is the equilibrium water temperature after the metal has been added and the temperature stops changing.
- Report ΔT in °C. If the water warmed, ΔT will be positive; if it cooled, ΔT will be negative.

Example
- Aluminum: T_before = 22.5 °C, T_after = 25.8 °C → ΔT = 25.8 − 22.5 = 3.3 °C
- Steel: T_before = 25.8 °C, T_after = 27.0 °C → ΔT = 27.0 − 25.8 = 1.2 °C
- Lead: T_before = 27.0 °C, T_after = 26.9 °C → ΔT = 26.9 − 27.0 = −0.1 °C

If you post your measured T_before and T_after for each metal (or a photo of Table B), I will calculate the exact ΔT values for you.