Colegio de Santa Rosa de Lima English Secondary

Form 4 Science 3rd term Physics Experiment Instructions (Specific Heat Capacity)
Name:__________________( ) Date: ___________________

Objective:

To find out the heat capacity and specific heat capacity of tap water.

Procedures:

1. (a) Measure about _______ kg of tap water using a metal cup and an electronic balance.

(b) Immerse an immersion heater, a stirrer and a thermometer in water through the holes of a lid.
Cover the cup with the lid (Fig a).

(c) Record the initial temperature of the water and the initial joulemeter reading in the Result
Part.

Metal cup with cotton wool

layer
Fig a

2. (a) Switch on the heater. Stir the water gently and continuously.

(b) Record in Table A the joulemeter reading and the temperature reached by the water when the
temperature of the water has risen by approximately 5 oC.

3. Repeat step 2 five more times in steps of about 5 oC to heat up the water.

Results: Initial temperature of water T1 :_________________

Initial joulemeter reading J1 : __________________

Temperature
of water

T / oC

Joulemeter
reading

J/J

Table A
Analysis:
Total
temperature
0
rise of water

ΔT / oC

Total energy
transferred
0
to water

Q/J

Plot a graph of the total energy transferred to water Q against the total temperature rise of water ΔT in
Fig b.

Fig b