Example A 0.050 kg ingot of metal is heated to 200.0°C and then dropped into a calorimeter containing 0.400 kg of water initially at 20.0°C. The final equilibrium temperature of the mixed system is 22.4°C. Find the specific heat of the metal.
Solution Energy leaves the hot ingot and goes into the cold water, so the ingot cools off and the water warms up. Once both are at the same temperature , the energy transfer stops.