Specific Heat Capacity: Practical.

Question 1

What is specific heat capacity?

Answer 1

• Amount of energy required to raise the temperature of 1kg of a substance by 1 celcius.

Question 2

What is the method for this practical?

Answer 2

1) Place beaker on balance and press 0.
2) Add oil to the beaker and record mass.
3) Place Thermometer and immersion heater into the oil.
4) Read the starting temperature of the oil.
5) Wrap the beaker in insulating foam (reduce thermal energy transfers to the surroundings).
6) Connect a joulemeter to the immersion heater. (tells us how many joules of electrical energy passes into the immersion heater).
7) Time 30 minutes. (allows temperature to rise enough to accuratley read thermometer).
8) Read number of joules of energy that passes the immersion heater+ final temperature.

Question 3

How do we calculate the specific heat capacity from the results?

Answer 3

• Rearrange for specific heat capacity.

- Change in thermal energy/mass x temperature change.

Question 4

Why might the specific heat capacity be inaccurate?

Answer 4

• Thermal energy passing out of the beaker into the air: Insulator with a lower thermal conducitivity.
• Not all thermal energy passing into the oil: Ensure immersion heater is fully enmerged.
• Incorrect reading on thermometer: Use an electrical temperature probe.
• Thermal energy not being spread through the oil: Stir the oil.