I keep getting “Calorimetry and thermal equilibrium” questions wrong in Thermal Properties of Matter. What's the trap?
assuming the final temperature is always the simple average.
The usual trap: assuming the final temperature is always the simple average. How to avoid it: the larger heat capacity pulls the final temperature closer to itself. Go back to the definition — In an insulated mixture, energy lost by hotter bodies equals energy gained by colder bodies until they reach a common temperature. Use signed heat changes or a clear lost = gained equation, never both conventions at once.
Key point
Calorimetry and thermal equilibrium
Common mistake
assuming the final temperature is always the simple average.
Memory tip
the larger heat capacity pulls the final temperature closer to itself.
Tap to watch or see it right here — the app stays open (it only opens a quick search if nothing embeddable is found).