WIKI SCHOOLS
SCHOOL OF PHYSICS
MTE031
MEASUREMENT OF THERMAL ENERGY
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Monday, 29th June, 2026 8:00 am to 10:30 am Answer all questions
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PAPER 1
Before you begin read these instructions carefully
The examination paper is divided into three sections. Section I carries ten marks, Section II
carries ten marks, Section III carries forty marks and Section IV carries forty marks.
You should attempt all questions. Write your full name on each page of your answer sheet.
Write legibly; otherwise, you place yourself at a grave disadvantage.
At the end of the examination:
Tie up your answer and exam sheets into a single bundle.
STATIONERY REQUIREMENTS
Two black or blue inked pens
One pencil
Ruler
Rubber
INSTRUCTOR: Sir Wycliffe Phinus Tuarira
WIKI SCHOOLS
SCHOOL OF PHYSICS
SECTION I
Heat content and Refrigeration
1. With examples, explain how mass, temperature difference and nature of the object affect
the heat content of a body.
2. Brief explain how does the concept of latent heat relates to the refrigeration process.
SECTION II
Heat capacity and Specific heat capacity
3. (a) Why water is regarded as the best cooling agent?
(b) How many joules of heat are given out when a piece of iron of mass 50 g and specific
heat capacity 460 J/Kg K cools from 800C to 200?
4. (a) Why do you think copper calorimeter is preferable instrument for measuring specific
heat capacity or heat capacity?
(b) What is the heat capacity of 1 kg of water? (Specific heat capacity of water = 4.2 J/g
K)
SECTION III
Calorimetry
5. The temperature of a piece of copper of mass 250 g is raised to 1000C and its then
transferred to a well-lagged aluminium can of mass 10.0 g containing 120 g of methylated
spirit at 10.00C. Calculate the final steady temperature after the spirit has been well
stirred. Given the specific heat capacities of copper, aluminium and methylated spirit are
400 J/kg K, 900 J/kg K and 2400 J/kg K.
6. To measure the specific heat capacity of a block of metal by heat exchange, the following
data were recorded;
Mass of metal = 0.3 kg
Mass of the calorimeter = 0.25 kg
Specific heat capacity of calorimeter = 4.0 J/g K
Mass of water = 0.5 kg
Specific heat capacity of water = 4.2 J/g K
Initial temperature of water = 12.00C
WIKI SCHOOLS
SCHOOL OF PHYSICS
Final temperature of water = 20.00C
Temperature of hot metal = 100.00C
Determine the specific heat capacity of the metal.
7. A piece of iron of mass 0.05 kg is heated in a flame and then quickly transferred to a
calorimeter of mass 0.05 kg and specific heat capacity 360 J/kg K containing 0.18 kg of
water at 180C. if the temperature of the water rises to 430C, find the temperature of the
flame. The specific heat capacity of the iron 450 J/kg K.
8. 0.05 kg of water at 800C is mixed with 0.06 kg of water at 100C contained in a vessel of
heat capacity 28 J/K. What is the final temperature?
SECTION IV
Latent Heat
9. Calculate the total energy given out when 8 g of water is condensed from 1000C falls to
temperature of 450C. Given Specific latent heat of vaporization = 2.2 x 106 J/kg and
Specific capacity of water = 4200 J/kg K.
10. A copper calorimeter of mass 120 g contains 70 g of water and 10 g of ice at 00C. What
mass of steam at 1000C must be passed into calorimeter to raise the temperature to 400C?
Given that, Specific latent heat of ice = 320 J/g, of steam = 2200 J/g; Specific heat
capacity of copper = 0.4 J/g K)
11. Dry steam is passed into a well-lagged copper can of mass 250 g containing 400 g of
water and 50 g of ice at 00C. The mixture is well stirred and the steam supply cut off when
the temperature of the can and its contents reach 200C. Find the mass of steam
condensed. Specific heat capacities water = 4.2 J/g K, Copper = 0.4 J/g K, Specific latent
heats steam = 2260 J/g, ice = 33.6 J/g).
12. A heating coils takes 14 minutes to heat 0.20 kg of water from 200 to boiling point. How
much longer will it take to boil away 0.02 kg of the boiled water? Specific heat capacity
of water = 4200 J/kg K, Specific latent heat of vaporization = 2.25 x 105 J/kg.