Required Practical 1: Specific Heat Capacity

• Determining the specific heat capacity of a material


  1. Place a beaker on a balance and press zero

  2. Add oil to the beaker and record the mass

  3. Place thermometer and immersion heater in the oil

  4. Insulate the beaker with foam

  5. Connect a joulemeter to the immersion heater

  6. Leave the setup for 30 minutes

  7. Read the total joules of energy passed into the immersion heater and the final temperature of the oil
• Specific heat capacity


  The amount of energy required to raise the temperature of one kilogram of a substance by one degree Celsius
• The equation to calculate specific heat capacity is: change in thermal energy = mass x specific heat capacity x temperature change
• The specific heat capacity of the oil was calculated to be 1670 joules per kilogram per degree Celsius
• Potential sources of inaccuracy in the experiment

  • Thermal energy passing to the beaker and into the air
  • Not all thermal energy from the immersion heater passing into the oil
  • Incorrectly reading the thermometer
  • Thermal energy not spreading evenly through the oil
• Ways to reduce inaccuracies include using a lower thermal conductivity insulator, ensuring the immersion heater is fully submerged, using an electronic temperature probe, and stirring the oil