The heat lost by the block as it cools from 500°C to 0°C equals the heat gained by the ice to melt. Using the heat balance equation, the mass of the block is found to be 2.5 kg, corresponding to option (B).
Concept and Intuition
When a hot object is placed on ice, the object cools down by transferring heat to the ice. The ice uses that heat to change phase from solid to liquid (melting) at a constant temperature of 0°C. The key principle is conservation of energy: the heat lost by the block equals the heat gained by the ice (assuming no heat loss to the surroundings). The block’s heat loss depends on its mass, specific heat, and temperature change. The ice’s heat gain depends on the mass of ice melted and the latent heat of fusion. By equating these, we can solve for the unknown mass of the block.
Step-by-step solution
- Identify the heat lost by the block
The block cools from 500∘C to 0∘C (the melting point of ice). The heat lost is given by:
Qblock=mblock⋅c⋅ΔT
where c=0.39Jg−1∘C−1 and ΔT=500−0=500∘C.
So:
Qblock=mblock×0.39×500
- Identify the heat gained by the ice
The ice melts at 0∘C using the latent heat of fusion. The heat gained is:
Qice=mice⋅Lf
where mice=1.455kg=1455g (since specific heat is given in Jg−1, we work in grams) and Lf=335Jg−1.
So:
Qice=1455×335
- Apply conservation of energy
Assuming no heat is lost to the environment, the heat lost by the block equals the heat gained by the ice:
mblock×0.39×500=1455×335
- Solve for mblock
First, compute the right-hand side:
1455×335=1455×(300+35)=436500+50925=487425
(Alternatively, 1455×335=487425).
The left-hand side simplifies:
0.39×500=195
So the equation becomes:
195mblock=487425
Divide both sides by 195:
mblock=195487425
Perform the division:
195×2500=487500(a bit too high by 75)
So:
mblock=2500−19575=2500−0.3846≈2499.615g
But more precisely:
487425÷195=2500−19575=2500−135≈2499.615
However, note that 195×2500=487500 and 487500−487425=75, so the exact value is 2500−75/195=2500−5/13. But wait—check if the numbers are exact:
1455×335=1455×335. Let’s compute exactly:
1455×335=1455×(300+35)=436500+50925=487425.
Now 487425/195: divide numerator and denominator by 15:
195÷15=13, 487425÷15=32495. So mblock=32495/13.
13×2500=32500, so 32495=13×2500−5, thus mblock=2500−5/13≈2499.615g.
That is approximately 2.4996kg, which rounds to 2.5kg.
A quick check: 0.39×500=195. If the block mass were exactly 2.5 kg = 2500 g, then heat lost = 2500×195=487500 J. The ice requires 487425 J. The tiny difference (75 J) is negligible given the problem’s precision, so 2.5 kg is the intended answer.
- Match with the options
The options are: (A) 0.67 kg, (B) 2.5 kg, (C) 1.455 kg, (D) 2.67 kg.
Our result is 2.5 kg, which matches option (B).
A common mistake is to forget to convert kilograms to grams or to mix units. Here, the specific heat is in Jg−1∘C−1, so the mass of ice (1.455 kg) must be converted to 1455 g. If you mistakenly use 1.455 g, you’d get a tiny mass for the block, leading to a wrong answer.
✓Final answer
The correct option is (B).
ANSWER: B