Question

A thermometer containing 0.10 g of mercury is cooled from 15 degrees celsius to 8.5 degrees celcius. How much energy left the mercury in this process?

Answer 1

To solve this exercise we will use the concept related to heat loss which is mathematically given as

$Q = mC_p \Delta T$

Where,

m = mass

$C_p$= Specific Heat

$\Delta T =$ Change in temperature

Replacing with our values we have that

$m = 0.1g$

$C_p = 139J/Kg\cdot K \rightarrow$ Specific heat of mercury

$\Delta T = 8.5\°C-15\°C = -6.5\°C \Rightarrow -6.5K$

Replacing

$Q = (0.1*10^3)(138)(-6.5)\\Q = -0.09J$

Therefore the heat lost by mercury is 0.09J