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erok81
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Homework Statement
I have some boiling water that I am adding potatoes to. I am asked to find the final temp after the potatoes have been added to the boiling water.
Tiw=100C (initial boiling water temp)
Tip=30C (initial room temp potatoes)
mp=0.5kg (mass of potatoes)
mw=1.5L or 1.5kg (mass of water)
cw=4.2kj/kg*C (specific heat of water)
cp=3.4kj/kg*C (specific heat of potatoes)
Homework Equations
[itex]C=\frac{Q}{\Delta T}[/itex]
[itex]c=\frac{C}{m}[/itex]
Since no heat is assumed to be lost, Qlost=Qgained
Subscript w is for water and p is potato
The Attempt at a Solution
Qlost=Qgained
cwmw(Tf-Tiw)=cpmp(Tf-Tip)
Both objects reach thermal equilibrium therefore Tf is the same.
After some algebra I end up with:
[itex]T_f = \frac{(c_w m_w T_iw) - (c_p m_p T_ip)}{(c_w m_w) - (c_p m_p)}[/itex]
Then plugging in my given values I end up with 125C which is no way correct.
I am thinking my error might be how I am choosing my Ti/Tf values. I saw an example somewhere which had a couple of the values switched. Which didn't really make sense because as far as I know, it's always Tf-Ti?
Where am I making my error? If needed I can post my algebra steps. I did them a few times and got the same answer every time...
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