Experiment # 7

Date:
Heat Capacity

Aim: To determine a value for the specific heat capacity of sand

Theory:
Specific heat capacity can be defined as the amount of the heat energy required to raise he
temperature of a substance per unit of mass. Specific heat capacities of substances can be
experimentally determined by using an electrical method or a method of mixtures. The specific
heat capacity of water is 4.2 J/g⸰C. The equation for the specific heat capacity is Q = mc▲ T,
where
 ‘Q’ is the symbol for heat transfer
 ‘m’ is the mass of the substance
 ‘▲T’ is the change in temperature
 ‘c’ is the specific heat of the material or substance

Apparatus:
Measuring cylinder, sand, ice and water mixture, polystyrene or plastic cup, thermometer, triple
beam balance
Diagram:
DIAGRAM SHOWING THE SETUP FOR THE SPECIFIC HEAT CAPACITY
EXPERIEMENT
Procedure:
1. The 0.120kg of dry sand was placed in the plastic cup and a mixture of ice and water was
retrieved.
2. The initial temperature of the sand ‘ꝋs’and ice ‘ꝋw’ and the water mixture was recorded.
3. 0.06kg of water was measured while being mindful of not transferring ice into the
measuring cylinder.
4. The water was added to the sand where the mixture was stirred, and then after that the
mass of the addedwater was recorded.
5. The lowest temperature of the mixture between the water and the sand ‘ꝋf’. The specific
heat capacity of the sand is given by the equation:
Mcw(ꝋf - ꝋw) = mc (ꝋs - ꝋf)
Where
 ‘M’ is the mas of the water added to the sand
 ‘m’ is the mass of the sand
 ‘ꝋw’ is the specific heat capacity of water (4.2 J/g⸰C)
 ‘c’ is the specific heat capacity of sand

Variables:
 Controlled Variable: Heat from the Bunsen burner
 Manipulated: Temperature
 Responding: The specific heat capacity

Data Collected:
 Weight of sand – .12kg
 Weight of cup – 0.0037kg
 Temperature of sand – 28⸰
 Temperature of water and ice solution - 2⸰
 Temperature of water and sand solution – 13.5⸰
 Mass of the water added to sanded – 0.06kg
Data Analysis:
The aim of the experiment was successfully met, with the group finding the value of
thespecific heat capacity of the sand, with the help of different data found during their
experiment.
It can be noted that the equation used to find the specific heat capacity is
Mcw(ꝋf - ꝋw) = mc (ꝋs - ꝋf)
Mcw(ɵF- ɵw) = mc (ɵs- ɵF)
0.06kg (4200) (286.65-275.15) = 0.12kg (301.15-286.65)
252 (11.5) = .12c (14.5)
2898
=c
1.74
c = 1665.5J kg-1K-1
The specific heat capacity of the sand is 1,665.5 J kg-1K-1 which is lower to the water which is 4.2
J/g⸰C. So if we compare, the temperature of sand rises very fast as compared to water. It means
sand requires less heat energy to have a rise in temperature.
The absolute uncertainty can be defined as the size of the range of values in which the
‘true value’ of the measurement probably lies.
The absolute uncertainty is ± ▲0.05cm.
Fractional uncertainty for (ꝋf - ꝋw) is (0.05 ÷ 11.5) = 4.35 × 10-3
Percentage uncertainty for (ꝋf - ꝋw) is (0.05 ÷ 11.5) × 100 = .43%
Fractional uncertainty for (ꝋs - ꝋf) is (0.05 ÷ 14.5) = 3.45 × 10-3
Percentage uncertainty for (ꝋs - ꝋf) is (0.05 ÷ 14.5) × 100 = .35%

Sources of Error:
 System error: through the thermometer as well as possibly the inaccurate calibration.
 Temperature measurement: time taken is not long enough while the specimen was in the
water and reading the temperature.
 Additional energy: if stirring the water to prevent non-uniform heating, the addition of
energy to the water, from the stirring device.

Precautions:
  When stirring the mixture of the sand and water, ensure the thermometer doesn’t touch
the base of the beaker.
 Ensure that the experiment is being done on a flat surface for example, a lab table

Conclusion:
It can be concluded that the specific heat capacity can be defined as the amount of the heat
energy required to raise he temperature of a substance per unit of mass. The specific heat
capacity of the sand was determined where it was 1,665.5 J kg-1K-1. The specific heat capacity of
the sand is the lower than the specific heat capacity of the water.