Required Practical 1:Specific Heat Capacity

• What is the specific heat capacity of a substance?

  Energy required to raise 1 kg by 1°C
• Why is the specific heat capacity practical important?

  It may appear in your exam
• What material's specific heat capacity are we determining in this practical?

  Vegetable oil
• What is the first step in the practical procedure?

  Place a beaker on a balance and zero it
• What do we record after adding oil to the beaker?

  The mass of the oil
• What do we place in the oil after recording its mass?

  A thermometer and an immersion heater
• What do we do after reading the starting temperature of the oil?

  Wrap the beaker in insulating foam
• Why do we wrap the beaker in insulating foam?

  To reduce thermal energy transfer to surroundings
• What device do we connect to the immersion heater?

  A joule meter and a power pack
• What does the joule meter measure?

  Joules of electrical energy passing into the heater
• How long do we leave the setup for the temperature to rise?

  Around 30 minutes
• What do we read after the heating period?

  Total joules of energy and final temperature
• What equation do we use to calculate specific heat capacity?

  Change in thermal energy = mass × specific heat capacity × temperature change
• How do we rearrange the equation for specific heat capacity?

  Specific heat capacity = thermal energy / (mass × temperature change)
• What were the results of the experiment for the mass of oil?

  0.95 kg of oil
• What was the initial temperature of the oil?

  20°C
• What was the final temperature of the oil?

  75°C
• How much electrical energy passed into the immersion heater?

  87258 joules
• What is the temperature change of the oil?

  55°C
• What is the calculated specific heat capacity of the oil?

  1670 J/kg°C
• Why might the specific heat capacity calculated be inaccurate?

  Due to thermal energy loss and measurement errors
• What is one reason for thermal energy loss?

  Energy passing out of the beaker into the air
• How can we reduce thermal energy loss to the air?

  Use an insulator with lower thermal conductivity
• What is another issue with the immersion heater?

  Not all thermal energy passes into the oil
• How can we ensure all thermal energy passes into the oil?

  Ensure the immersion heater is fully submerged
• What is a potential error when reading the thermometer?

  Incorrectly reading the temperature
• How can we prevent thermometer reading errors?

  Use an electronic temperature probe
• What issue may arise with thermal energy distribution in the oil?

  Thermal energy may not spread evenly
• How can we improve thermal energy distribution in the oil?

  Stir the oil
• What should you be able to do after this video?

  Describe a practical for specific heat capacity