specific heat capacity practical

• Determining the specific heat capacity of vegetable oil

  1. Place beaker on balance and zero it

  2. Add oil and record mass

  3. Place thermometer and immersion heater in oil

  4. Insulate beaker with foam

  5. Connect joulemeter to immersion heater

  6. Leave setup for 30 minutes

  7. Record total joules of energy and final temperature
• Specific heat capacity


  The amount of energy required to raise the temperature of one kilogram of a substance by one degree Celsius
• Specific heat capacity = Change in thermal energy / (Mass x Temperature change)
• Potential sources of inaccuracy

  • Thermal energy passing to beaker and air
  • Not all thermal energy from heater passes into oil
  • Incorrectly reading thermometer
  • Thermal energy not spreading evenly through oil