Chapter 21, Problem 38A

To determine

To Explain: Adding the same amount of heat to two different objects does not necessarily produce the same increase in temperature.

Explanation of Solution

Introduction:

The specific heat of an object is the amount of heat required to increase its temperature by unit amount per unit mass of the object.

If Q amount of heat is given to an object of mass m unit and of specific heat c unit, then the temperature of the body will increase by an amount of $\Delta T$ unit.

  $Q=ms\Delta T$

  $\Rightarrow \Delta T=\frac{Q}{ms}$

So, increase in temperature of a body depends on mass, the specific heat of the body and the amount of given heat.

If the same amount of heat Q is given to two different objects, then due to their different specific heat and due to their different mass m, $\Delta T$ will not be the same.