Energy- Specific Heat Capacity

Question 1

The specific heat capacity of a substance is the amount of ______ needed to raise the
temperature of _ __ of substance by 1 __

Answer 1

The specific heat capacity of a substance is the amount of energy needed to raise the
temperature of 1kg of substance by 1 oC

Question 2

what is the equation for specific heat capacity

Answer 2

change in thermal energy
= mass x shc x temperature change

Question 3

requires practical: specific heat capacity of vegetable oil

Answer 3

1. place a beaker on a balance and press 0
2. add the oil to the beaker and record the mass
3. place a thermometer and an immersion heater into the oil
4. read the starting temp of the oil
5. wrap the baker in insulation foam
6. connect a joulemetre to the immersion heater
7. leave for around 30 minutes
8. read the total number of joules of energy that passed through the immersion heater and the final temp of the oil

Question 4

specific heat capacity equation =

Answer 4

change in thermal temperature /
mass x temperature change

Question 5

what are some problems with this experiment and how can e reduce them

Answer 5

• thermal energy can pass out through the beaker into the air –> reduced by using an insulator with a lower thermal conductivity
• not all energy passes into the oil –> immersion heater should be fully submerged
• incorrectly reading the thermometer > use an electric temperature probe
• thermal energy might not be evenly spread out through the oil –> stir oil