I.

Objectives

1. To determine the specific heat of metal specimens using the method of mixtures
2. To apply the law of conservation of energy in the experiment

II. Discussion of Related Physics Concept

Heat may be defined as the transfer of energy from an object with a higher temperature to an
object with a lower temperature, and it may also be defined as a form of energy which is
measured by temperature. [1] Thermal equilibrium occurs when a system and its surroundings
reach the same temperature, meaning that one object doesn't have a higher temperature than the
other, and the heat stops being transferred. [1] According to the law of conservation of energy,
energy is not lost in a system. Thus, heat is never lost and is only transferred within a system or
from an object to its surroundings, as seen when the hot copper shots were cooled by transferring
their heat to the water around them.

III. Set-up

Figure 1: The steam Generator Figure 2: The copper shots

Figure 3: The heating apparatus

Figure 4: The thermometers
 Figure 5: The calorimeter and the stirrer Figure 6: The cup and the towel

Figure 7: The beaker

IV. Data and Results

Specific heat of calorimeter (cc), in cal/gC° = 0.43

Specific heat of stirrer (cs), in cal/gC° = 0.118
Specific heat of water (cw), in cal/gC° = 1.0

Material of metal shot specimen Copper

Mass of specimen (mx), in g 87.63
Mass of calorimeter (mc), in g 192.00
Mass of stirrer (ms), in g 23.72
Mass of calorimeter and water, in g 272.57
Mass of water (mw), in g 80.57
Initial temperature of cold water, calorimeter, and stirrer (To), in °C 24
Initial temperature of specimen (Tx), in °C 92
Equilibrium temperature (Tf), in °C 27
Computed specific heat of specimen (cx), in cal/gC° 0.0874
Specific heat of specimen from Table 1 (Appendix), in cal/gC° 0.093
Percent Error 6.0289%
Computations:

Finding mw:
Beaker = 48.72 g
Beaker and water = 129.29 g
Mass of water (mw) = (Beaker and water) -Beaker
= 129.29 g - 48.72 g
mw = 80.57 g

Finding mx:
Beaker and copper shots = 136.35 g
Mass of specimen (mx) = (Beaker and copper shots) –Beaker
= 136.35 g- 48.72 g
(mx) = 87.63 g

Finding Cx computed:
mxcx(Tx- Tf) = (mwcw + mccc + mscs) (Tf – To)
cx = [(mwcw + mccc + mscs) (Tf – To)]/ [mx (Tx- Tf)]
= [(80.57g*1.0 cal/gC° + 192 g*0.43 cal/gC° + 23.72 g*0.118 cal/gC°)*
(27°C– 24°C)] / [87.63 g*(92°C- 27°C)]
cx = 0.0874 cal/gC°

Finding the Percent Error:

Percent error = | (cx theo- cx computed) / cx theo | * 100
=| (0.093 cal/gC°-0.0874 cal/gC°) / 0.093 cal/gC°| * 100
Percent error = 6.0289 %

V. Analysis of Results

The specific heat of the object is inversely proportional to the mass of the specimen
multiplied by its change in temperature, as we can see in the table since the computed specific
heat was very close to the theoretical heat. The 6.0289% error was primary due to the cold
temperature in the room.

VI. Conclusion

In the experiment, the students measured the specific heat of solid, specifically copper. The
law of conservation of energy was successfully applied and tested. The students were able to
determine the specific heat of the copper using the heat lost by the specimen and the heat gained
by water, calorimeter and stirrer. However, the results are not quite identical with the theoretical
specific heat of specimen, we believe that this was due to the time consumed when we
transferred the specimen into the calorimeter which is another factor to be considered in doing
this experiment aside from the accurate reading of the temperature from the thermometer
because this can cause errors to the reading of equilibrium temperature of the mixture since too
much heat will escape if it is not immediately transferred.

VII. Recommendation
 It is recommended that the hose of the steam generator must be positioned in such a way that
the steam will come out inside the provided cup and placed away from the students to prevent
any injuries and burns. It is also recommended to transfer the specimen as fast as possible to
prevent errors.
The group recommends using a digital thermometer to avoid errors when reading the
temperature and to prevent uncertainty. If possible, a calorimeter with built-in thermometer and
stirrer will be helpful and will produce accurate results. Due to our experience with the loose
rubber tubing connected on the steam generator, the group recommends someone who will hold
the rubber tubing in place while using a towel to avoid injuries. But due to safety concerns, the
group recommends on replacing it with a tighter tube. If possible, the group also recommends to
replace the boiler with a larger opening to avoid the specimen on being trapped inside the boiler
during specimen transfer.

VIII. References (APA Style)

1) What is Heat? (n.d.). Retrieved February 22, 2016, from

http://www.physicsclassroom.com/class/thermalP/Lesson-1/What-is-Heat

IX. Appendix
Figure 8: The beaker weighing 48.72 grams Figure 9: The calorimeteror mc weighing
192.00 grams

Figure 10: The beaker and copper shots Figure 12: The beaker and water weighing
weighing 136.35 grams 129.29 grams

Figure 11: The initial temperature of cold Figure 13: The initial temperature of the
water, calorimeter, and stirrer (To) is 24°C. copper shots (Tx) is 92°C.
Figure 14: The equilibrium temperature (Tf) is 27°C.