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Ch 20: The Micro/Macro Connection
Chapter 20, Problem 20

2.0 g of helium at an initial temperature of 300 K interacts thermally with 8.0 g of oxygen at an initial temperature of 600 K. c. How much heat energy is transferred, and in which direction?

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Key Concepts

Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.

Heat Transfer

Heat transfer is the process of thermal energy moving from a hotter object to a cooler one until thermal equilibrium is reached. This can occur through conduction, convection, or radiation. In this scenario, heat will flow from the oxygen (hotter) to the helium (cooler) until both gases reach the same temperature.
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Specific Heat Capacity

Specific heat capacity is the amount of heat required to raise the temperature of a unit mass of a substance by one degree Celsius. Different substances have different specific heat capacities, which affect how much heat energy is absorbed or released during temperature changes. This concept is crucial for calculating the heat transfer in the given problem.
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Thermal Equilibrium

Thermal equilibrium occurs when two objects in thermal contact no longer exchange heat, meaning they are at the same temperature. In the context of this problem, the heat transfer will continue until the helium and oxygen reach thermal equilibrium, allowing us to determine the final temperature and the total heat energy transferred.
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