Specific Heat for Melting Ice – Rankers Physics

Calorimetry: Practice Problem & Solution

Assertion (A): Specific heat for melting Ice is infinite. Reason (R): In isothermal process specific heat of substance is infinite.  
(1) Both (A) & (R) are true and the (R) is the correct explanation of the (A)
(2) Both (A) & (R) are true but the (R) is not the correct explanation of the (A)
(3) (A) is true but (R) is false
(4) Both (A) and (R) are false

Solution Explained:

To solve this problem, we apply the core principles of Calorimetry. Understanding the underlying formula is key to arriving at the correct answer below:

Specific heat is defined as \(c = \frac{Q}{m \Delta T}\). During melting (a phase change), the temperature \(\Delta T\) remains constant, meaning \(\Delta T = 0\). Hence, the specific heat \(c\) becomes infinite. Both assertion and reason are true, and the reason explains the assertion.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Similar Practice Questions

Explore conceptually related problems to test your knowledge.

1. Steam at $100^\circ\text{C}$ is passed into $20\text{ g}$ of water at $10^\circ\text{C}$. When water acquires a temperature of $80^\circ\text{C}$, the mass of water present will be: [Take specific heat of water $= 1\text{ cal /g }^\circ\text{C}$ and latent heat of steam $= 540\text{ cal g}^{-1}$]: (2014)
2. A polyatomic molecule has 3 translational, 3 rotational degrees of freedom. The molar specific heat ratio \((\gamma = \frac{C_p}{C_v})\) for this gas is
3. The unit of thermal conductivity is : (2019)
4. A body cools from \(80^\circ\text{ C}\) to \(70^\circ\text{ C}\) in \(12\text{minutes}\) and from \(70^\circ\text{ C}\) to \(60^\circ\text{ C}\) in \(t \text{ minutes}\). The value of \(t\) is (temperature of surrounding is \(40^\circ\text{ C}\).
5. The equation of state for $5 \text{ g}$ of oxygen at a pressure $P$ and temperature $T$, when occupying a volume $V$, will be: (2004)