You computed the specific heat for each of the four metals using the formula below: Check all items that you used, either directly or indirectly, each time you did this computation.

The calculation uses conservation of energy: heat lost by the metal equals heat gained by the water, so the first law applies. Heat flows from the hotter object to the cooler one, and the heat calculation uses each substance’s mass and temperature change through q = mcΔT. Since the water’s specific heat is known, it lets you calculate the heat it gains and then determine the metal’s specific heat.

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