Practicals

Question 1

How would I go about to determine the specific heat capacity of a material

Also give two sources of inaccuracy and how to solve them(8)

Answer 1

1. Start a beaker on a balance and press zero
2. Add the oil to the beaker and record the mass of the oil
3. Place a thermometer and an immersion heater into the oil
4. Read the starting temperature temp of the oil
5. Wrap the insulating foam to reduce thermal energy transfer to the surroundings
6. Connect a joule meter and power pack to the immersion heater

7.Leave for 30 minutes

8.Read the total number of joules of energy that passed into the immersion heater and the final temperature of the oil.

Now use the results to find out the SHC by using the formula SHC = energy/ (Mass * Degrees)

Inaccuracy:
- Thermal energy passing out of the beaker into the air. solved by using an insulator with a lower thermal conductivity

Not all thermal energy passing into the oil. Can solve by ensuring that immersion heater is fully submerged

Incorrect reading of thermometer solved by using an electronic temperature probe.

Thermal energy not being spread through the oil. Just stir the oil to fix this problem