Chapter 17, Problem 1OQ

To determine

The conclusion obtained from these results.

Answer to Problem 1OQ

Option (c) The specific heat of ice is less than that of water.

Explanation of Solution

An amount of energy is added to ice by heat and raise it temperature from $-10°\text{C}$ to $-5°\text{C}$, the change in temperature is $\Delta T_{ice}=5°\text{C}$. And a larger amount of energy is added to the same mass of water to raise its temperature from $15°\text{C}$ to $20°\text{C}$, the change in temperature is $\Delta T_{water}=5°\text{C}$.

Write the formula for specific heat

    $c=\frac{Q}{m\Delta T}$        (I)

Here, $Q$ is the energy transferred, $m$ is the mass, $c$ is the specific heat of the substance and $\Delta T$ is the change in temperature.

In the above equation, the mass and the temperature change of ice and water are the same. Thus, the specific heat is directly proportional to the energy added.

Since, water needs larger amount of energy to rise the temperature by $5°\text{C}$ and ice needs lesser amount of energy to rise its temperature by $5°\text{C}$. The specific heat to water is greater than the specific heat of ice. Option (c) is correct.