Specific Heat Capacity

Question 1

what is the specific heat capacity of a substance

Answer 1

specific heat capacity of a substance is the amount of energy needed to increase the temperature of 1kg of that substance by 1 degree

Question 2

explain the specific heat capacity experiment

Answer 2

1) The heater increases the internal energy of the body and we measure this using a joulemeter.
2) Measure the temperature of the body (object) at the start and measure the maximum temperature of the body at the end.

Calculating specific heat capacity

Question 3

what is the formula for specific heat capacity

Answer 3

S.H.C = change in thermal energy / mass x maximum temp rise

Question 4

list the 5 instruments used in the S.H.C experiment

Answer 4

1) Joulemeter - measures the energy supplied
2) Heater - supplies energy to the material
3) Thermometer - measures the temperature change
4) Power supply - supplies power
5) insulation - reduces heat lost to the environment

Question 5

Alex’s value for the S.H.C of water Is large than the accepted value. what could be the reason for this?

Answer 5

1) HEAT LOSS to the SURROUNDING mean that the actual amount if energy transferred into heating the water is less than the value read from the joulmeter
2) HEAT LOSS could be minimised by better insulating the system. surrounding the system by metal reflective shield

Question 6

what do we call the energy that is transferred to a substance without the substance temperature rising

Answer 6

Latent Heat

Question 7

list the three terms that are multiplied together to give the change in thermal energy

Answer 7

1) Mass
2) Specific Heat Capacity
3) Temperature Change

Question 8

NOTE:

Latent heat is the energy that is transferred to a substance without the substance’s temperature changing. This happens when a substance is changing state.

When a substance changes state, this energy is absorbed (used) to create or weaken bonds, rather than transfer kinetic energy to a substance’s particles.

If we measure energy using the change in temperature, this energy transfer will not be measured.
The energy is transferred without the temperature changing.

When a solid becomes a liquid or a liquid becomes a solid, this hidden energy is called the latent heat of fusion.

When a gas becomes a liquid, or a liquid becomes a gas, this hidden energy is called the latent heat of vaporisation.

Answer 8

NOTE:

Latent heat is the energy that is transferred to a substance without the substance’s temperature changing. This happens when a substance is changing state.

When a substance changes state, this energy is absorbed (used) to create or weaken bonds, rather than transfer kinetic energy to a substance’s particles.

If we measure energy using the change in temperature, this energy transfer will not be measured.
The energy is transferred without the temperature changing.

When a solid becomes a liquid or a liquid becomes a solid, this hidden energy is called the latent heat of fusion.

When a gas becomes a liquid, or a liquid becomes a gas, this hidden energy is called the latent heat of vaporisation.