Investigating specific heat capacity

Question 1

How can you investigate specific heat capacity?

Answer 1

• Solid material (copper) with two holes –> for heater + thermometer
• Measure mass of block
• Wrap it in insulating layer –> reduce energy transfer
• insert heat + thermometer
• Measure initial temperature
• Set V as 10
• Turn on + start stopwatch
• Measure temperature of block every 10 minutes
• Collect temperature (10 times) + turn off

Question 2

What happens when you investigate specific heat capacity?

Answer 2

• Current does work on heater
• Transfers energy (electrically) from power supply to heater’s thermal energy store
• Transferred to block’s thermal energy store by heating
• Temperature increases
• Current through circuit shouldn’t change

Question 3

Formula for power:

Answer 3

Power = Voltage X Current
P = VI

Question 4

Formula for energy transferred:

Answer 4

E = Power X Time
E = Pt

Question 5

How can you find the specific heat capacity from a graph?

Answer 5

• 1 / (gradient X mass of block)

Question 6

What is an improvement to the experiment using copper?

Answer 6

• Use a different material (to compare)