Some very hot rocks have a temperature of #720 ^o C# and a specific heat of #250 J/(Kg*K)#. The rocks are bathed in #40 L# of boiling water. If the heat of the rocks completely vaporizes the water, what is the minimum combined mass of the rocks?

1 Answer
Apr 29, 2017

The mass of the rocks is #=582.5kg#

Explanation:

The heat transferred from the rocks to the water, is equal to the heat used to evaporate the water.

For the rocks #DeltaT_o=720-100=620º#

Heat of vaporisation of water

#H_w=2257kJkg^-1#

The specific heat of the rocks is

#C_o=0.25kJkg^-1K^-1#

The mass of water is #m_w=40kg#

# m_o C_o (DeltaT_o) = m_w H_w #

#m_o*0.25*620=40*2257#

The mass of the rocks is

#m_o=(40*2257)/(0.25*620)#

#=582.5kg#