Specific Heat Capacity

• What is the specific heat capacity of a substance?

  It is the amount of energy required to raise the temperature of 1 kilogram of the substance by 1° C.
• What is the practical used to determine the specific heat capacity of a material?

  • Use a beaker on a balance to measure the mass of the material.
  • Add a thermometer and immersion heater to the material.
  • Insulate the beaker to reduce thermal energy loss.
  • Measure the energy input and temperature change.
  • Calculate specific heat capacity using the formula.
• What material's specific heat capacity is determined in the practical described?

  Vegetable oil
• What is the first step in the practical to determine specific heat capacity?

  Place a beaker on a balance and press the zero button.
• Why do we wrap the beaker in insulating foam?

  To reduce any thermal energy transfer to the surroundings.
• What device measures the electrical energy passing into the immersion heater?

  A joule meter
• How long should the setup be left to allow the temperature to rise?

  Around 30 minutes
• What is the equation for calculating the change in thermal energy?

  The change in thermal energy equals the mass multiplied by the specific heat capacity multiplied by the temperature change.
• If the mass of oil is 0.95 kg and the temperature change is 55° C, what is the specific heat capacity if the change in thermal energy is 87258 J?

  $1,670 \text{ J/kg°C}$
• What are the main sources of inaccuracies in determining specific heat capacity?

  • Thermal energy passing out of the beaker into the air.
  • Not all thermal energy from the immersion heater passes into the oil.
  • Incorrectly reading the thermometer.
  • Thermal energy may not be evenly spread through the oil.
• How can thermal energy loss to the air be reduced?

  By using an insulator with a lower thermal conductivity.
• How can the issue of thermal energy not fully passing into the oil be addressed?

  By ensuring that the immersion heater is fully submerged.
• What can be done to prevent incorrect thermometer readings?

  Use an electronic temperature probe.
• How can thermal energy distribution in the oil be improved?

  By stirring the oil.
• What should you be able to do by the end of the video?

  Describe a practical that can be used to determine the specific heat capacity of a material.