required practical

• What is the purpose of investigating specific heat capacity?

  To understand how materials store thermal energy
• What is required to investigate a solid material's specific heat capacity?

  A block of the material with two holes
• What should you do after measuring the mass of the block?

  Wrap it in an insulating layer
• Why is the block wrapped in an insulating layer?

  To reduce energy transferred to surroundings
• What should be done after inserting the thermometer and heater?

  Measure the initial temperature of the block
• What voltage should be set on the power supply?

  10V
• What happens when the power supply is turned on?

  The current does work on the heater
• How is energy transferred to the material?

  By heating from the heater's thermal energy store
• What is measured every minute during the experiment?

  The temperature of the block
• What should remain constant during the experiment?

  The current in the circuit
• What can be calculated once enough readings are collected?

  The power supplied to the heater
• How can you compare specific heat capacities of different materials?

  By repeating the experiment with different materials
• How can you investigate the specific heat capacity of liquids?

  • Use an insulated beaker
  • Place heater and thermometer in the liquid