Please help me with this physics question. Thank you! A kilogram of mercury is p

Question

Please help me with this physics question. Thank you!

A kilogram of mercury is poured into a kilogram of water. Assume that all heat transfer is between the water and the mercury and not from the outside or to the outside. Given that the thermal conductivity and specific heat of mercury are typical of a metal, the final temperature of the water-mercury system will be:

(a) closer to the initial temperature of the water than to the initial temperature of the mercury.

(b) closer to the initial temperature of the mercury than to the initial temperature of the water.

(c) half way between the initial temperature of the mercury and that of the water.

(d) none of the above is necessarily the case.

(a) closer to the initial temperature of the water than to the initial temperature of the mercury.

(b) closer to the initial temperature of the mercury than to the initial temperature of the water.

(c) half way between the initial temperature of the mercury and that of the water.

(d) none of the above is necessarily the case.

Explanation / Answer

Although the thermal conductivity of mercury is way more than that of water, it has not a much role to play in this case. Here the heat transferred be H. Then it is the specific heats that of these substances that play a major role here. The specific heat of water is much more than that of mercury. So, the temperature of water will not change as much as the temperature of mercury has changed. So, the final temperature of the system will be much closer to the initial temperature of water since the , mass of both the substances is same.

So, option A is correct

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