In a casting workshop, a technician pours 0.15 kg of molten aluminium at its freezing point of 660 ∘C660\ ^\circ\text{C}660 ∘C into an insulated container holding 1.50 kg of solid aluminium at 600 ∘C600\ ^\circ\text{C}600 ∘C.
The specific heat capacity of solid aluminium is 900 J/kg ∘C900\ \text{J/kg}\ ^\circ\text{C}900 J/kg ∘C.
The specific latent heat of fusion of aluminium is 397 000 J/kg397\,000\ \text{J/kg}397000 J/kg.
Assume that no energy is transferred to the container or to the surroundings.
Calculate the energy released if all of the molten aluminium freezes.
Show that the solid aluminium needs 81 000 J81\,000\ \text{J}81000 J to reach 660 ∘C660\ ^\circ\text{C}660 ∘C.
Explain, using your answers to (a) and (b), whether all of the molten aluminium freezes.
Calculate the temperature reached when the two aluminium samples come into thermal equilibrium.
110 exam-style questions on Edexcel GCSE Physics 14.2 Specific heat capacity and latent heat, covering 14.2.1 Heating, temperature and changes of state, 14.2.2 Specific heat capacity and specific latent heat, 14.2.3 Specific heat capacity calculation, 14.2.4 Specific latent heat calculation, and 14.2.5 Reducing energy transfer through thermal insulation. Each one has a worked solution and a mark scheme showing where the marks go.