The specific heat capacity of a material is the amount
of energy required to raise 1 kg of the material by 1 °C.
Energy = mass x Specific heat capacity x temperature
change
Specific heat capacity is measured in J/kg°C. The higher the specific heat capacity the longer it takes to heat up and cool down. It can store more energy
Calculate much energy would be needed to raise the
temperature of a 5kg block of aluminium (Specific
heat capacity 899 J/Kg/oC) by from 25°C - 35°C?
Energy = mass x specific heat capacity x temperature change
E = 5 x 899 x ( 35 - 25 )
E = 5 x 899 x 10
E = 44,950 J
What is the specific capacity of water if 83,620J or
energy was used to raise the temperature of 2kg
from 20°C to 30 °C.
Energy = mass x Specific heat capacity x temperature change
83,620 = 2 x c x ( 30 - 20 )
83,620 = 2 x c x 10
c = 83,620/( 2 x 10 )
c = 4181J/kg
Specific heat capacity practical
Set up equipment
measure the mass of the block using a top pan balance
Measure the start temperature using a thermometer
Record the temperature every minute for 30 mins
Measure end temperature
calculate the change in temperature
Record your results
Calculate power with the equation
calculate energy transferred with the equation
Calculate specific heat capacity
What is an error that could happen during a specific heat capacity experiment?
some thermal energy is transferred to the surroundings so temperature increase not as high as it should be for the
total energy transferred
This is a set up of a specific heat capacity practical
How do you calculate specific heat capacity from a graph?
Gradient = change in y ÷ change in x Heat capacity = 1 ÷ gradient
What are the risks in a specific heat capacityexperiment?
