Thermodynamics Lab

Specific Heat Capacity of Water

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CONTENT
1. Objective
2. Introduction
3. Theory
4. Equipment
5. Procedure
6. Reading and Calculation
7. Discussion
8. Conclusion

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OBJECTIVE
Determination of specific heat capacity of water using an
electrical heating method.

INTRODUCTION
In thermodynamics, the specific heat capacity (symbol cp)
of a substance is the heat capacity of a sample of the
substance divided by the mass of the sample. Specific
heat is also sometimes referred to as massic heat
capacity. Informally, it is the amount of heat that must be
added to one unit of mass of the substance in order to
cause an increase of one unit in temperature. The SI unit
of specific heat capacity is joule per kelvin per kilogram,
J⋅kg−1⋅K−1. For example, the heat required to raise the
temperature of 1 kg of water by 1 K is 4184 joules, so the
specific heat capacity of water is 4184 J⋅kg−1⋅K−1.
Specific heat capacity often varies with temperature, and
is different for each state of matter. Liquid water has one
of the highest specific heat capacities among common
substances, about 4184 J⋅kg−1⋅K−1 at 20 °C; but that of ice,
just below 0 °C, is only 2093 J⋅kg−1⋅K−1.

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THEORY
The heat capacity of the substance is the quantity of heat
needed to raise the temperature of one gram of a
substance by one degree Celsius. The heat capacity is
changed with temperature especially at high temperature.
If the entry of energy to the system is ΔQ and increasing
of temp, is ΔT. So, the heat capacity defined as:

In the electrical method of heat capacity measurements,

the heat is supplied to the system from an electrical
source. The energy received from the source in a given
interval of time, part of it may be used in raising the
temperature of the system and the remainder is lost to the
surrounding at low temperature. When a current (I) passes
between two points of a conductor, between which there is
a potential difference (V), the electrical energy converted
to heat energy (Q) absorbed by the system (calorimeter
and its content), is given by
𝐸𝑙𝑒𝑐𝑡𝑟𝑖𝑐𝑎𝑙 𝑒𝑛𝑒𝑟𝑔𝑦 = 𝑉𝐼𝑡 (𝑗𝑜𝑢𝑙𝑒𝑠)
(1)
t = time step (minutes).
This is equated to the heat energy gain (Q) by the
specimen and Calorimeter.
𝑄 (𝑔𝑎𝑖𝑛) = 𝑚𝑐𝛥𝑇 (𝑐𝑎𝑙𝑜𝑟𝑖𝑒)
(2)

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Where
m = mass of the specimen and calorimeter, g.
c = specific heat of the specimen and calorimeter,
cal/g.C.
T = Tf - Ti
Ti = initial temperature, C.
Tf = final temperature, C.
Since the right-hand side of the equation is in calorie and
the left-hand side in joule and 1 calorie = 4.2 joule.

Then, the energy balance from eqns. (1) and (2) becomes:

(3)

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EQUIPMENT
1. Calorimeter with outer jacket 2. Thermometer
3. Stirrer 4. Heating Coil 5. Power supply 6.
Ammeter
7. Stop watches 8. Voltmeter 9. Rheostat 10. Electrical
key

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PROCEDURE
1. Determine the mass of the aluminum empty calorimeter
(mAL) whose specific heat is known (CAL for Al = 0.217
cal/g.C)
2. Determine the mass of the water in the calorimeter
(mw) whose specific heat (Cw) is unknown.
3. Switch on the power supply, set the voltage and the
current.
4. Read the temperature at each (2 minute) for (10
minutes).
5. Plot a curve between (T) vs (t).
6. Calculate the specific heat of water using the equation
No.3

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READING AND CALCULATION
mempty = 26.78 g mfull = 182.39 g
mwater = 182.39 – 26.78 = 155.61 g
Ti = 10°C Tf = 61°C
Voltage = 11.1 v I = 3.77 A
CAl = 0.217 cal/g.C Δt = 20min
Time (t), (min.) Temperature (T), (C°)
0 10
2 16
4 22
6 27
8 32
10 38
12 43
14 48
16 53
18 57
20 61

((26.78)(0.217)+( 155.61)(Cw))(61 10) =

Cw = 1.46 cal/g.C

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DISCUSSION
1. What is the difference between the temperature and
heat?
Answer: Heat describes the transfer of thermal energy
between molecules within a system and is measured in
Joules. Heat measures how energy moves or flows.
Temperature describes the average kinetic energy of
molecules within a material or system and is measured in
Celsius (°C), Kelvin (K), Fahrenheit (°F), or Rankine (R).
2. What are the error sources in this experiment?
Answer: Loss of heat by conduction is the main cause of
error in this experiment. The theory behind this specific
heat test is based on the conservation of energy. Heat is a
form of energy, and in this case, it will be transferred
between the sample and water.
3. Calculate the percentage error by the relation:

P.R = ×100
P.R = 46 %

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4. What is the difference between heat capacity and
specific heat capacity?
Answer: Heat capacity is the ratio of the amount of heat
energy transferred to an object to the resulting increase in
its temperature. Specific heat capacity is a measure of the
amount of heat necessary to raise the temperature of one
gram of a pure substance by one degree K.
5. If we have 1 kg of water and 2 kg of water which one
will reach at boiling point first? Why
Answer: They will both reach boiling point at the same
time because boiling point does not depend on the mass
of the substance.

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CONCLUSION
The purpose of this experiment was to measure the
specific heat capacity of water. Specific heat capacity
is the quantity of heat needed to raise the temperature per
unit mass. Usually, it's the heat in Joules needed to raise
the temperature of 1 gram of sample 1 Kelvin or 1 degree
Celsius. Water has an extremely high specific heat
capacity, which makes it good for temperature regulation.
Water has a specific heat capacity of 4.18 J (or 1
calorie/gram °C). The result of specific heat capacity of
water found through this experiment was (1.46 cal/g.C)
which means the error rate of the experiment is (46%).
The percent error in this experiment could be due to the
Loss of heat by conduction. The theory behind this specific
heat test is based on the conservation of energy. Heat is a
form of energy, and in this case, it will be transferred
between the sample and water.

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