Specific Heat Capacity

• What is specific heat capacity?

  Energy needed to change a material's temperature
• Why do some materials heat up easier than others?

  They require less energy to increase temperature
• How much energy is needed to warm 1kg of water by 1°C?

  1200J
• How much energy is needed to warm mercury by 1°C?

  139J
• What does a high specific heat capacity indicate about a material?

  It requires more energy to increase temperature
• What is the formula for energy transfer related to specific heat capacity?

  ΔE = mcΔθ
• What do the variables in the equation ΔE = mcΔθ represent?

  Energy, mass, specific heat capacity, temperature change
• How can you calculate the power of the heater in the experiment?

  Using P = VI
• How do you calculate the energy transferred by the heater?

  Using E = Pt
• What should you do if the current in the circuit changes during the experiment?

  Ensure the current remains constant
• What does a linear graph of energy transferred against temperature indicate?

  Energy transferred is directly proportional to temperature change
• Why might the graph of energy transferred against temperature start off curved?

  Initial heating may not be uniform
• How can you find the specific heat capacity from the graph?

  Using the gradient of the linear part
• What does the gradient of the graph represent in terms of specific heat capacity?

  Gradient is 1/mc
• How can you compare specific heat capacities of different materials?

  By repeating the experiment with various materials
• What is the procedure to investigate specific heat capacity of a solid material?

  1. Measure the mass of the block.
  2. Insulate the block to reduce energy loss.
  3. Attach thermometer and heater.
  4. Measure initial temperature.
  5. Set power supply to 10.0V and start the stopwatch.
  6. Monitor current for 10 minutes.
  7. Calculate power using P = VI.
  8. Calculate energy transferred using E = Pt.
  9. Plot energy transferred against temperature.
• What are the key components of the apparatus used in the specific heat capacity experiment?

  • Power supply
  • Heater
  • Thermometer
  • Block of material
  • Ammeter
  • Voltmeter
• What are the strengths and weaknesses of using a graph to determine specific heat capacity?

  Strengths:

  • Visual representation of data
  • Easy to identify linear relationships

  
  

  Weaknesses:

  • Initial curvature may complicate analysis
  • Requires accurate measurements for reliability