Running head: SPECIFIC HEAT CAPACITY OF WATER

What is the specific heat capacity of tap water?

SPECIFIC HEAT CAPACITY OF WATER 1

Aim

To measure the specific heat capacity of water using an electric current passing through water.

Introduction

In this experiment, the water is heated by electric current passing through a heating coil.

Research Question

What is the specific heat capacity of tap water?

Hypothesis

Due to the scientific value for c of water being 4200, we hypothesize that the calculated value will be

around 4000 as the water being used in this experiment is tap water.

Variables

Table 1.1 : Independent and Dependent Variables

Independent Variable Time (s)

Dependent Variable Temperature change (Δ°C)

Table 1.2: Controlled Variables

Controlled Variable How and Why is it Controlled?

Voltage The voltage is controlled by being kept constant

throughout the experiment because the aim of the
experiment is to use the relationship between
temperature and the time to calculate the specific heat
capacity of water and voltage would alter the results
SPECIFIC HEAT CAPACITY OF WATER 2

Current The current must remain constant because current

passing through must remain constant so as not to
allow for the variance in the current to affect the
relationship between the variables and influence the
conclusion

Liquid chosen For this experiment tap water was chosen to be

tested, it is controlled as it keeps the specific heat
capacity, c, the same.

Mass of liquid used The mass chosen was 100 grams.

Background information

Electrical energy is transferred into heat as charges move through a resistor. The rate of the transformation

𝐸
can be depicted by dividing the electrical energy produced by the time passed, as shown through 𝑡
= 𝑉𝐼,

where E represents the electrical energy to be calculated through the voltage and current recorded in the

voltmeter and ammeter. When the current passes through the heating coil, the coil warms up and transfers

heat to the water and the inner container of the calorimeter. The law of conservation of energy applies, the

electrical work done on the coil W 𝑒

must be equal to the total supplied heat; where Q 𝑤
is the heat

supplied to the water and Qc is the heat supplied to the calorimeter.

Apparatus

- Scale

- Liquid (Tap water)

- Insulator

- Voltmeter ( ± 0.05 )
SPECIFIC HEAT CAPACITY OF WATER 3

- Ammeter ( ± 0.05 )

- Wires

- Thermometer (±0.005)

- DC generator

- Stopwatch (±0.01)(s)

Method Figure 1

1. Measure 100 g of water (tapp water). Then measure the

mass of the inner container of the calorimeter (mass mc)

and pour the 100 g of water into it.

2. Connect the heating coil into the circuit with the AC

voltage source, ammeter and voltmeter, as shown in figure

1 and figure 2.

3. With the power supply still off, set the voltage to 4 and

resistance of the coil, so that the electrical current in the

circuit is about 3 A.

4. Due to minimizing heat loss, add a tissue in the areas that

leave room for air particles to enter.

5. Before turning the power supply on, measure the

temperature of water in the calorimeter; leave the

thermometer in the calorimeter during the whole

measurement.
SPECIFIC HEAT CAPACITY OF WATER 4

6. Turn on the power supply and at the same begin to measure the time of the heating by starting the

stop watch. Also take notes of the voltage and current values. Figure 2

7. After about 3 minutes read the final temperature of the water. Do not forget to write down the

time of heating.

8. Repeat the above step until the time has reached 21 minutes which should result in 8 readings

total. This should only have one trial

Raw Data Collection

Table 2.1 presents the temperature taken for 21 minutes

Time (Minutes) ±0.01 Temperature (°C) ±0.005 ∆ Temperature (°C)

◦ ◦
0 20 C 0 C

◦ ◦
3 23 C 3 C

◦ ◦
6 26 C 6 C

◦ ◦
9 29 C 9 C

◦ ◦
12 32 C 12 C

◦ ◦
15 36 C 16 C

◦ ◦
18 39 C 19 C

◦ ◦
21 42 C 22 C

The uncertainty on Time is ±0.01 due to being half of the smallest scale division

The uncertainty on Temperature is ±0.005 due to being half of the smallest scale division
SPECIFIC HEAT CAPACITY OF WATER 5

To find ∆T, the equation T 𝑓

− 𝑇 𝑖is used ;

◦
For example, for 21 minutes ∆T is 42 - 20 = 22 C

Presenting processed data

Graph 1.1 presents the relationship between time and change in temperature

Note: Uncertainties are very insignificant, thus error bars are barely visible and steepest steep and least

steep can not be seen. Thus can only be calculated.

Calculations

The 𝑄 = 𝑚𝑐∆𝑇equation calculates the heat energy produced using specific heat capacity and the mass,

which can be rearranged to find the specific heat capacity. Although the heat energy is unknown, it
SPECIFIC HEAT CAPACITY OF WATER 6

converts to electrical energy allowing us to establish that 𝑄 = 𝐸, and 𝐸 = 𝑃 · 𝑡, and 𝑃 = 𝐼𝑉, thus

𝑄 = 𝑚𝑐∆𝑇can be written as 𝐼𝑉𝑡 = 𝑚𝑐∆𝑇, since electrical energy is represented by 𝐸 = 𝐼𝑉𝑡.

𝑉𝐼 𝑉𝐼
The equation 𝐼𝑉𝑡 = 𝑚𝑐∆𝑇can be rearranged to ΔT= 𝑚𝑐
・t , in which 𝑚𝑐
is the gradient of the graph.

𝑉𝐼
Gradient of the Graph 𝑚𝑐
= 1.00

To Find the Specific Heat Capacity (c) :

𝑉𝐼
𝑚𝑐
= 1.00

(4)(3)
(0.1)𝑐
= 1.00

12
(0.1)𝑐
= 1.00

12
Rearranging gives, 𝑐 = 0.1 × 1.00

𝑐 =120 J Kg-1K-1

Uncertainty in Graph:

Steepest steep (maximum gradient) : 0.25

Least steep (minimum gradient): -0.04

𝑚𝑎𝑥 − 𝑚𝑖𝑛 0.25+0.04

Uncertainty on Gradient: 2
, 2
= ± 0.145

Conclusion and Evaluation

The hypothesis was incorrect as the value calculated for c was less than the predicted value by almost

3800, this could be due to an unknown error that resulted in an inaccurate heat capacity value. As

depicted in the graph, the temperature change, ∆𝑡, is related to the passage of time. The gradient of the

graph shows that throughout this experiment the heat capacity of water was proven to be proportional,
SPECIFIC HEAT CAPACITY OF WATER 7

which was proven by graphing the change in temperature and change in energy and the graph showing a

straight, diagonal line showing the proportionality of heat capacity.

Although the readings of temperature were taken through the use of an analog thermometer meaning there

will be a higher chance of inaccuracy and thus a higher uncertainty, due to the thermometer having a lot

of scale lines, the uncertainty on the reading was very small and insignificant as the smallest possible

reading on the thermometer was 0.01 degrees meaning the uncertainty was 0.005. Since the uncertainty

was so insignificant, so were the error bars and ultimately the steepest steep and least steep lines. Both the

error bars and steepest steep line were unable to be seen on the graph and thus in order to complete this

lab, they were just calculated by increasing the scale factor to a more readable size. The percentage error

𝑎𝑐𝑐𝑒𝑝𝑡𝑒𝑑 𝑣𝑎𝑙𝑢𝑒 − 𝑒𝑥𝑝𝑒𝑟𝑖𝑚𝑒𝑛𝑡𝑎𝑙 𝑣𝑎𝑙𝑢𝑒 4200 − 120

for this experiment is 𝑎𝑐𝑐𝑒𝑝𝑡𝑒𝑑 𝑣𝑎𝑙𝑢𝑒
× 100 = 4200
= 97. 1%. According to The

United States Geological Survey Agency, the specific heat of water is proven to be approximately 4200 J

Kg-1K-1 , which is why this value was used to calculate the percentage error.

As for real life application, heat capacity is used on many different levels. One thing that affects most

people, is the efficiency of their furnace. Experts are able to find out the efficiency of our furnace thus

finding the most efficient and cheapest way of warming our homes during the winter.

Strengths and Limitations

As seen this experiment has showcased various strong areas, one being the usage of an insulator and

adding a tissue to block any heat escaping the insulator’s openings in order to minimize loss of energy to

the surrounding of the room. In addition, the thermometer remained in the insulator at all times to reduce

the risk of heat transfer if it was removed and reinserted for each reading.

Table 2 Limitations of experiment

SPECIFIC HEAT CAPACITY OF WATER
Limitation Effect on Result
Heat loss Could affect the actual value of ∆𝑡
and consequently alter all
following calculations.
The use of non-distilled Without the use of non-distilled
water (tap water) water the total heat capacity could
not possibly have been measured,
but it can cause a disparity between
the results calculated and the actual
results.
8
How to improve?
Conducting the experiment at a
consistent room temperature and
maintaining equilibrium within the
surroundings to limit heat loss to the
maximum extent.
Conduct more trials and use minimum
difference in the mass of the water to
reduce the error percentage.