How do you use this equation and what does it stand for? Cm = -MwCwTw/MmTm. I know that it is an equation for specific heat and Mw stands for mass of water and Tw is the temperature of the water and Mm is mass of the mass and temperature of the mass. I did an experiment and now its asking me to use this equation but what does C stand for?

Question

matt101 · Answer

C is referring to the heat capacities of whatever you're working with, in this case water (w) and m (metal?). The general equation to calculate the heat energy transferred is q=mcT, where q is the total heat energy (you know what m, c, and T are). If you're looking at the transfer of energy from one object to another, you can set the mcT of one equal to the mcT of the other because it's the same heat being transferred. Just make sure one side is negative, because the heat lost by one object is gained by the other.

Hope that made sense!