Lawrence Jmie

TITLE: Specific heat capacity

AIM: To determine the specific heat capacity of a metal

APPARATUS / MATERIALS: Beaker, string, polystyrene cup, measuring cylinder, stirrer,

thermometer, Bunsen burner, tripod stand, metal

DIAGRAM:

PROCEDURE:

1. Determined the mass of the metal

2. Placed 150cm3 of water in a polystyrene cup and recorded the initial temperature of the
water
3.
Placed the metal in a water bath and heated it for approximately 10 minutes.

4.
Measured the temperature of the water bath

5.
Quickly transferred the metal into the polystyrene cup of water.

6. Recorded the highest reading on the thermometer.

7. Calculated the specific heat capacity of the metal.

RESULTS:

TABLE SHOWING MASS AND TEMPERATURE CHANGES OF MATERIALS

Mass/kg Initial temperature / ⁰C Final temperature / ⁰C

Water

0.15 32 39
Block
Metal

0.20 100 39

CALCULATIONS:

Mass of metal block: 0.20kg

Initial temperature of the metal block: 100 °C
Final temperature of the metal block: 39 °C
Drop in temperature of the metal block:
=100 °C-39 °C
=61 °C

Mass of water: 0.15 kg

Initial temperature of the water: 32 °C
Final temperature of the water: 39 °C
Rise in temperature of the water:
=39 °C-32 °C
=7 °C

EH = mcΔθ
Heat energy = mass (m) x specific heat capacity(c) x change in temperature (Δθ)
Heat energy lost by the block = heat energy gained by the water
m (metal) x c (metal) x Δθ (metal) = m (water) x c (water) x Δθ (water)
0.2 kg x c x 61°C = 0.15 kg x 4200 Jkg^-1°C^-1 x 7°C
= 12.2 x c = 4410 J
Specific heat capacity = Q/m Δt
c = 4410 J / 0.2 kg x 61°C
c = 361.48 Jkg^-1°C^-1
The specific heat capacity of the metal = 361.48 Jkg^-1°C^-1
DISCUSSION:

The specific heat capacity (c) is the heat energy required to raise one kilogram
(1kg) of a substance by on degree (1°). Specific heat capacity however shouldn’t get
confused with heat capacity (C) which is the thermal energy required to raise the
temperature of a body by one kelvin ( 1 K). The unit for specific heat capacity is
Jkg^-1°C^-1 and for heat capacity it is J. The aim of this experiment was to determine
the specific heat capacity of a metal and it was determined to be 361.48 Jkg^-1°C^-1.
Firstly, we determined the weight of the metal, then we placed 150cm3 of water in
a polystyrene cup and recorded the initial temperature of the water, Placed 150cm3 of
water in a polystyrene cup and recorded the initial temperature of the water, placed
150cm3 of water in a polystyrene cup and recorded the initial temperature of the water,
recorded the highest reading on the thermometer and calculated the specific heat
capacity of the metal. The initial temperature of the metal was 100°C final whiki
temperature was 39°C. . There was a 61°C temperature change and the water went form
32°C to 39°C so there was a 7°C temperature change in the water. The heat energy lost
by the metal block is equal to the energy gained by water. The law of conservation of
energy is proven in his experiment, the energy isn't lost it’s just converted to another
form. In this equation, 12.2 x c = 4410 J, the variable c is unknown. This formula c =
Q/mt was therefore used and the specific heat capacity of the metal was found to be
361.48 Jkg^-1°C^-1.
SOURCES OF ERROR:

1. Thermometer reading error: the thermometer couldv've been read incorrectly

2. The metal block could've been transferred too slow cuasing the loss of heat

PRECAUTIONS:

1.
The metal bock was transferred quickly to reduce the loss of heat

2. Ensure that the thermometer wwas working befoe the commencement of the
experiment to prevent errors
LIMITATIONS:

The amount of heat lost to the environment

1.

The time taken for the water to reach 100°C

2.

CONCLUSION:

In conclusion, the specific heat capacity of the metal block was found using the
formula c = Q/m Δt and it was calculated to be 361.48 Jkg^-1°C^-1.

REFLECTION:

Specific heat capacity can be related to everyday life in many situations.

Understanding an item's specific heat capacity allows you to properly use that item.
The developers of kitchen utensils understood specific heat capacity, this is why they
are made of materials of low specific heat. Frying pans and pots are made of
materials with high specific heat so that they could heat up their contents quickly.
The S.H.C lab gave me a better understanding of the engineering behind a lot items.