Question

A ‘thermacole’ icebox is a cheap and efficient method for storing small quantities of cooked food in summer in particular. A cubical icebox of side 30 cm has a thickness of 5.0 cm. If 4.0 kg of ice is put in the box, estimate the amount of ice remaining after 6 h. The outside temperature is 45 °C, and coefficient of thermal conductivity of thermacole is 0.01 J s–1 m–1 K–1. [Heat of fusion of water = 335 × 103 J kg–1]

Answer 1

Side of the given cubical ice box, s = 30 cm = 0.3 m
Thickness of the ice box, l = 5.0 cm = 0.05 m
Mass of ice kept in the ice box, m = 4 kg
Time gap, t = 6 h = 6 × 60 × 60 s
Outside temperature, T = 45°C
Coefficient of thermal conductivity of thermacole, K = 0.01 J s–1 m–1 K–1
Heat of fusion of water, L = 335 × 103 J kg–1
Let m’ be the total amount of ice that melts in 6 h.
The amount of heat lost by the food:
θ = $\frac{KA(T - 0)t}{I}$
Where,
A = Surface area of the box = 6s2 = 6 × (0.3)2 = 0.54 m3
θ = $\frac{0.01 \times 0.54 \times (45) \times 6 \times 60 \times 60}{0.05}$ = 104976 J
But θ = m'L
m' = θ/L
= $\frac{104976}{335}$ x 103 = 0.313 kg
Mass of ice left = 4 – 0.313 = 3.687 kg
Hence, the amount of ice remaining after 6h is 3.687 kg.