Question

What is water equivalent?

Answer 1

Hint: The water equivalent is generally used in the comparison with the water quantity present in certain mediums. This is usually measured for the calorimeter in kilograms (unit to measure water equivalent).

Complete answer:
Let us learn this from the basics;
Water equivalent –
The water equivalent of a body is the amount of water whose temperature could be raised through 1K $\left( 1{}^\circ C \right)$ by the heat which is required to raise the same temperature of that body.
If we talk about calorimeters, then the water equivalent of a calorimeter is nothing but the amount of water which will absorb the same amount of heat that the calorimeter will absorb. This can be explained more precisely by an example –
Consider, P heat is given to the calorimeter which would result in $Q{}^\circ $ rise in the temperature of the calorimeter. Now if, same heat i.e. P is given to R kg of water such that the rise in temperature of water is same i.e. $Q{}^\circ $ then the water equivalent of the calorimeter is R kg.

Note:
Do note that water equivalent of a body is indeed equivalent to the product of its mass and specific heat i.e.
\[WaterEq.=Mass\times Sp.Heat\]
It is also possible to describe the same as the mass of water whose heat capacity is equal to the heat capacity of a given body.