Physpap3 2011 #5 heat

(a) Specific heat capacity is the amount of heat energy required to change the temperature of 1kg of the substance by
1 K.
(b) Materials: calorimeter, thermometer, candle, matches, balance,
1. Weigh an empty calorimeter. Place 100mL of water in the calorimeter and weigh again. Subtract to find the mass
of water in the calorimeter. Cover the calorimeter and insert the thermometer in the water. The thermometer
should not touch the bottom or sides of the calorimeter.
2. Measure the mass of a watch glass. Measure the mass of the candle, and place it in the watch glass.
3. Note the initial temperature of the water. Light the paraffin candle and, holding your calorimeter with the tongs,
move it over the burning paraffin just high enough so there is enough oxygen to keep the fire burning.
4. Continue holding the calorimeter over the flame until the flame stops burning. Note the temperature when the
candle stops burning. Measure the mass of the watch glass with the remaining candle and subtract the mass of the
watch glass as measured in Step 2.
5. Subtract the final candle mass from the initial candle mass to calculate the total mass burned. Subtract the initial
temperature from the final temperature to measure the change in temperature.
6. Assume 1 mL of water equals one gram; therefore, this experiment used 100 grams of water, and it takes 4.2
Joules (J) to raise 1 gram of water 1 degree Celsius. Multiply the mass of water by the change in temperature by 4.2
J to measure the total thermal energy it took to bring the temperature to its highest point in Joules.
7. Divide the thermal energy created by mass (in grams) of the candle that were burned to calculate the heat of
combustion of paraffin wax expressed in J/g.
Observations to be made: temperature change, mass readings, when candle stops burning, new masses.

(c) (i) heat energy gained by water H.E = m X c X temp change = 12g X 4.2J/g
o
C X 36
o
C =1 814.4 J
Assuming that all heat energy given out by the candle is absorbed by the water, amount of heat energy
contained per gram of candle is 1 814.4 J/ 25g = 72.576 J/g
(ii) the assumption is that all the heat given out by the candle is absorbed by the water.
(iii) the calculated heat energy would be greater than the actual value. Reason: there is heat loss to the
surroundings and the container. All the heat given out by the candle did not actually go to the water.


(d) (i) power = VXI power = 9V X 1.5A = 13.5 W or J/s

(ii) power = energy / time energy = power X time 2.5 mins = 150 s
= 13.5 J/s X 150s = 2 025J this heat is given out by the heater and assumed
to be absorbed by the paraffin wax.

H.E = mX c X temp change c = H.E. / (mX temp change) c= 2 025J / (80g X 12
0
C) =2.11 J /g
0
C

(iii) one advantage of using lagging to insulate the calorimeter is that the lagging prevents heat given out form the
heater from being lost to the surrounding container and environment. The heat given out by the heater is mostly
transferred to the paraffin wax.