IB skill practice

Calculate thermal energy transfers

Paper 1, Paper 2 5 marks Difficulty 5

Thermal energy from temperature change

In a greenhouse model investigation, a sample of mass \(0.2\,\text{kg}\) has specific heat capacity \(870\,\text{J kg}^{-1}\text{K}^{-1}\) and warms by \(19\,\text{K}\). Calculate the thermal energy transferred. Enter the numerical result and choose the interpretation that matches the physical meaning.

Worked practice: physics data and result

Read the physical quantities first, then calculate the result and state what it means.