specific heat capacity

• Specific heat capacity


  The amount of energy required to raise the temperature of one kilogram of a substance by one degree Celsius
• 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

  5. Connect joulemeter to immersion heater

  6. Leave setup for 30 minutes

  7. Record total energy passed to heater and final oil temperature
• The equation to calculate specific heat capacity is: change in thermal energy = mass x specific heat capacity x temperature change
• Potential sources of inaccuracy

  • Thermal energy loss to beaker and air
  • Not all energy from heater enters oil
  • Incorrect thermometer reading
  • Uneven heat distribution in oil
• Ways to improve accuracy include using better insulation, fully submerging heater, using electronic temperature probe, and stirring the oil