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1 Specific Heat Capacity Sample Results

This document describes a procedure for determining the specific heat capacity of a material by heating a block of the material with an electric heater and measuring the temperature increase. Students will measure the mass of the block, apply electrical power over time, and record the temperature increase. From a graph of temperature vs. work done, the specific heat capacity can be calculated from the gradient and mass.

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Dsouza 101
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32 views3 pages

1 Specific Heat Capacity Sample Results

This document describes a procedure for determining the specific heat capacity of a material by heating a block of the material with an electric heater and measuring the temperature increase. Students will measure the mass of the block, apply electrical power over time, and record the temperature increase. From a graph of temperature vs. work done, the specific heat capacity can be calculated from the gradient and mass.

Uploaded by

Dsouza 101
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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GCSE Physics required practical activity: Specific heat capacity

Student sheet

Required practical activity Apparatus and techniques

An investigation to determine the specific heat capacity of one or AT 1, AT 5


more materials. The investigation will involve linking the decrease of
one energy store (or work done) to the increase in temperature and
subsequent increase in thermal energy stored.

What is the specific heat capacity of copper?

In this investigation you will heat up a block of copper using an electric heater.
You will measure:
 mass
 work done by the heater
 temperature.

You will plot a graph of temperature against work done. The gradient of this graph and the mass of
the block will be used to determine the specific heat capacity of copper/Aluminium.

Learning outcomes

1 (AT1) To use appropriate apparatus to make and record measurements of mass, time and temperature
accurately, noting the resolution of the equipment

2 (AT5) To use, in a safe manner, appropriate apparatus to measure energy changes/transfers and
associated values such as work done.

3 To calculate the electrical energy transfer (work done) transferring into thermal energy

4 To analyse a graph of Work Done against Temperature to determine the specific heat capacity of the
metal block

Method
You are provided with the following:
 copper/Aluminium block wrapped in insulation, with two holes for a thermometer and heater

 thermometer

 pipette to put water in the thermometer hole

 30 W heater

 12 V power supply

 insulation to wrap around the blocks

 (0-5 Amp) ammeter and (0-15V) voltmeter

 five 4 mm leads

 stop watch or stop clock

 Top-pan balance and heat mats


Read these instructions carefully before you start work.

1. Measure and record the mass of the copper/Aluminium block in kg.


2. Place a heater in the larger hole in the block.
3. Connect the ammeter, power pack and heater in series.
4. Connect the voltmeter across the power pack.

V
12V

5. Use the pipette to put a small amount of water in the other hole.
6. Put the thermometer in this hole.
7. Switch the power pack to 12 V. Switch it on.
8. Record the ammeter and voltmeter readings. These shouldn’t change during the experiment.
9. Measure the temperature and switch on the stop clock.
10. Record the temperature every minute for 10 minutes.
Add your results to a table such as the one below.

Time in seconds Current (A) Voltage (V) Temperature in °C Work done in J


0.0 0.00
0 17
3.2 9.25
60 18
3.1 9.50
120 20
3.1 9.50
180 21
3.1 9.50
240 23
3.1 9.50
300 25
3.1 9.50
360 27
3.1 9.50
420 29
3.1 9.50
480 31
3.1 9.50
540 33
3.1 9.50
600 35

PLEASE TURN OVER


11. Calculate the power of the heater in watts using Power = Current x Voltage (P = I x V)
To do this, multiply the ammeter reading by the voltmeter reading.

12. Calculate the work done by the heater using Energy = Power x time (or E = I x t x V)
To do this, multiply the power value by the time in seconds.

13. Plot a graph of temperature in oC against work done in J.

Temperature in °C

Work done in J

14. Draw a line of best fit. Take care as the beginning of the graph may be curved.

15. Calculate the gradient of the straight part of your graph.


1 E
16. The heat capacity of the block is: C = (This is because C = and mass = 1 Kg)
gradient m ∆T

17. The specific heat capacity is the heat capacity divided by the mass of the block in kg.
Calculate the specific heat capacity of the material of the block.

18. Gather secondary evidence for blocks made from other materials such as aluminium/copper/iron.

19. Look at the following hypothesis:

Metal blocks with the same mass, yet bigger volume


have a bigger specific heat capacity.

Is this true for the blocks you tested?

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