[gt5hz]

Given the measurements provided below, calculate the specific heat of copper.

Calorimeter:
mass of water = 500g
Initial temp. of water = 20.0 C
Final temp. of water = 26.2 C

Copper sample:
mass of copper = 482.0g
Initial temp. of copper = 98.8 C

OK. I know to use q=mcdeltaT to find Q of water. (I'm given c water as 4180 J/kg C). After which I sub in q in q=mcdeltaT for copper. Basically, I know that the answer is going to be around 370 J/kg K. However for delta T of water, the values are 26.2 (final temp. water) and 98.8 (initial temp. of copper).

1. Which is t2 and which is t1?
2. Why is the final temp. of water involved in this equation??

[Borek]

Final temperature of water is in this case final temperature of the whole system - that is both water and copper.

Try to write separately what are delta T for copper and delta T for water.