Assume you are measuring the specific heat of a sample of hot metal by using a calorimeter containing water. Because your calorimeter is not perfectly insulating, energy can transfer by heat between the contents of the calorimeter and the room. To obtain the most accurate result for the specific heat of the metal, you should use water with which initial temperature?

Question

anonymous · Answer

Correct: slightly lower than room temperature 
Incorrect: slightly higher than room temperature 
Incorrect: the same as room temperature 
Incorrect: whatever you like because the initial temperature makes no difference

anonymous · Answer

Can someone explain why it would be slightly lower than room temp, i thought it should be the same as room temp.

amistre64 · Answer

to counteract the loss of heat ....

amistre64 · Answer

heat moves from hot to cold might play a role in this counterbalance, but i cant say im sure as to a specific physical description

amistre64 · Answer

id say consider the cooler water as a "heat bank" to account for the loss