Required Practical

Question 1

METHOD:

Specific heat capacity of a material

Answer 1

• measure mass of metal block in kg
• put thermometer and immersion heater into holes in the block
• connect immersion heater, joule meter and power supply together
• Measure temp of block and then switch on power supply
• wait until temp of block has gone up by about 10 degrees then switch off power supply. Reading in joule meter gives the amount of energy transferred to the immersion heater
• do not take immersion heater out of block. Keep looking at temp and note the highest temp shown by thermometer

Question 2

CALCULATION:

Specific heat capacity of metal block

Answer 2

Specific heat capacity= thermal energy/mass x temp change energy

Question 3

METHOD:

Thermal insulation and risk

Answer 3

Hazard - using very hot water
Risk - knocking the water over and scolding yourself
Safety - do not sit down while using the hot water

• Select different materials to test as insulators
• wrap one of the materials around the outside of a metal glass container. Do not wrap any material under the bottom of container as it could make it top over
• pour hot water into container
• put life into container with upright thermometer through the hole in it
• take starting temp of water and start stop watch
• wait 10 mins then take temp of water

Question 4

Control variable

Answer 4

What you keep the same

Question 5

Resolution

Answer 5

Smallest change that the instrument can detect

Question 6

Categoric variable

Answer 6

Values that given a name or a label

Question 7

Continuous variable

Answer 7

Numerical values obtained by either measuring or by counting

Question 8

Dependent variable

Answer 8

A variable whose value depends on that of another

Example: height (dependent) changes with age (independent)

Question 9

Independent variable

Answer 9

A variable whose value does not depend on that of another

Example: age and time