Thermal Energy Transfer

In this experiment a metal nut made of stainless steel is heated using a torch. The nut is then dropped into a cup filled with water and the temperature change is measured. The goal is to estimate the temperature of the hot metal nut before it was added to the water.

Determine the mass of steel and of water
Determine the initial and final temperatures
Calculate the change in temperature
Calculate the amount of energy transferred from the steel to the water
Calculate the temperature change of the steel
Calculate the temperature of the steel before being added to the water

Specific heat capacities: Water = 4.184 J/(g·°C) | Steel = 0.502 J/(g·°C)

Watch the video below, then use what you observe to fill out the Data Table. Then use that information to fill out the Results Table. Click the ? next to any box for a hint.

Item	Value
Mass steel	✓ ✗ g
Mass H₂O	✓ ✗ g
Initial temperature of H₂O	✓ ✗ °C
Final temperature of H₂O and steel	✓ ✗ °C

🔢 Results Table

Item	Value
∆T H₂O	✓ ✗ °C
Energy gained by H₂O	✓ ✗ J
Energy lost by steel nut (enter as a positive value)	✓ ✗ J
∆T steel nut	✓ ✗ °C
T nut before added to H₂O	✓ ✗ °C

Experiment: Thermal Energy Transfer