Practicle invesitagting specphic heat capcity

Question 1

What are the equipments needed?

The aim of this experiment is to determine the specific heat capacity of a solid and of water by measuring the energy required to increase the temperature of a known amount by one degree

Answer 1

• Thermoeter
• Solid block of alluminum
• Beaker of water
• Immersion heater
• Voltmeter
• Ammeter
• Power supply
• Digtail balance
• Stop watch

Question 2

What is the method?

Answer 2

1. Place the beaker on the digital balance and press ‘tare’
2. Add approximately 250 ml of water and record the mass of the water using the digital balance
3. Place the immersion heater and thermometer in the water
4. Connect up the circuit as shown in the diagram, with the ammeter in series with the power supply and immersion heater, and the voltmeter in parallel with the immersion heater
5. Record the initial temperature of the water at time 0 s
6. Turn on the power supply, set it at approximately 10 V, and start the stopwatch
7. Record the voltage from the voltmeter and the current from the ammeter
   Continue to record the temperature, voltage and current every 60 seconds for 10 minutes
   8.Repeat steps 2-8, replacing the beaker of water for the solid block of aluminium and starting with recording its mass using the digital balance

Anaylsis of results needs to happen

Calculate the energy supplied every 60 seconds using the formula: Electrical energy = voltage × current × time
Electrical energy is measured in Joules (J)
Voltage is measured in volts (V)
Current is measured in amps (A)
Time is measured in seconds (s)
Calculate the temperature change by subtracting the temperature at time 0 s from the temperature recorded each minute
The equation for specific heat capacity is: