Chapter 3- Practical Experiments

Question 1

Specific heat capacity equation (to determine the heat capacity of the material)

Answer 1

Specific heat capacity= heat supplied to material divided by mass x change in temp

Question 2

What do you need for specific heat capacity practical

Answer 2

• a block of the substance (1kg in mass) or in the case of water, a beaker containing a known mass of water
• thermometer
• a heater (eg immersion heater)
• a power source
• a joule meter or voltmeter, ammeter and stopclock

Question 3

Carrying out specific heat capacity experiment

Answer 3

• assemble apparatus (equipment) and measure initial temp of substance
• turn on power supply and start stop-clock
• take several periodic measurements of the voltage and current and calculate average of them
• monitor thermometer and remember the highest temp reached
• calculate the rise in temp

Question 4

Heath supplied to the substance equation

Answer 4

Energy= current x voltage x time (in seconds)

Question 5

What is the problem with the specific heat capacity experiment

Answer 5

• not all of the heat supplied by the heater will go into the substance- some will go into the surroundings and the heater will also lose heat while being heated
• this means that the value for heat added will be too great meaning the calculated specific heat capacity will also be too great (not an accurate answer)