Specific Heat Capacity

Question 1

Investigation to find specific heat capacity of water (9)

Answer 1

• measure temperature increase
• measure time taken
• allow temperature to rise to maximum after heater switched off
• calculate total energy (using E = Pt or E = IVt)
• measure mass of water
• (by) finding difference between empty beaker and ‘beaker + water’
• use of E = m x c
• plot a temperature-time graph
• use gradient of the graph to find c
• repeat and average

Question 2

Specific heat capacity of a solid

Answer 2

• measure current and voltage across immersion electric heater…
• using ammeter and voltmeter
• measure time taken
• find total energy (using E = IVt)
• measure temperature increase (𝚫T)
• measure mass of solid…
• using balance
• c = E / m 𝚫T
• plot temperature-time graph…
• use gradient (to find c) as c = p/m x gradient (c is 𝚫T)
• repeat and average

Question 3

Define specific heat capacity

Answer 3

• energy required to change temperature of x by 1 degree Celsius per kg of mass

Question 4

Problems with specific heat capacity experiment

Answer 4

• heating of beaker
• heating of surrounding
• insulation not perfect
• hokes in lid for thermometer / heater leave gaps (for heat to escape through lid or via evaporation)