The Student Room Group

Thermal dynamics - what temperature will two objects reach?

If object A is hotter (say 280K) and is in a closed system in contact with object B which is colder (say 260K). Is it true to say that when they reach thermal equilibrium, the temperature of the two objects will be 270K regardless of their size differences?

I.e. T = Tc + (Th - Tc / 2)
i.e. Temperature end = Temperature of cold object + (difference in temperatures / 2)
Original post by splitter2017
If object A is hotter (say 280K) and is in a closed system in contact with object B which is colder (say 260K). Is it true to say when they reach thermal equilibrium, temperature of objects will be 270K, regardless of size differences?

No, the substance type and relative mass/size matters. Thermal equilibrium is reached with the constraint that total thermal energy of the system is conserved (note E = mcΔT, Q = mL).

If we model an ice cube melting in a room at room temp, implicitly we assume cube negligibly affects room, cube dominated by room i.e) to room temp.
(edited 6 years ago)

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