Required practical 1 - Specific heat capacity

Question 1

Method using oil

Answer 1

Place beaker on balance. Set balance to 0.

Add oil into the beaker and record the mass.

Place thermometer and immersion heater in oil.

Record starting temp

Wrap beaker in insulating foam - reduces energy loss to surroundings

Connect joulemeter and power pack to immersion heater. Leave for 30m.

Read total joules from joulemeter and oil final temp.

Calculate specific heat capacity - change in thermal energy / (mass * temp change)

Question 2

What is specific heat capacity?

Answer 2

Energy needed to increase the temp of 1kg of a substance by 1deg c

Question 3

Sources of inaccuracy

Answer 3

Thermal energy passing out the beaker (use an insulator with lower thermal conductivity)

Not all thermal energy passes into the oil (ensure the immersion heater is fully submerged)

Incorrectly reading the thermometer (use electronic probe)

Thermal energy not evenly spread (stir the oil)