Physics

[NS102]

LAB REPORT

Title of Experiment: Specific Heat

Fall 2021
Introduction

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Calorimetry is the science of measuring heat. We will use a calorimeter to measure the amount
of heat transferred from the copper to water. By knowing the value of the specific heat of
water we will then be able to calculate the specific heat of the copper. When a substance is
heated, the motion of its individual particles increases, resulting in an increase in temperature.
The more heat that is added per gram of substance, the greater the temperature change.
The amount of heat required to raise the temperature of one gram of a substance by one degree
Celsius is known as its Specific Heat, which is usually denoted by the letter c. (or 1 K). The
specific heat of water is 1.0 cal/g K, as can be seen from the definition of the calorie given
above. If an object is made of a substance with a specific heat of c, the amount of heat required
to raise the temperature of that object by an amount AT is: AQ = (mass of object) (c) (AT).

Equipment and setup

Equipment:

1. Calorimeter
2. Thermometer
3. Samples of aluminum
4. Balance
5. Boiling water
6. Cool water
7. Thread

Procedure

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 • Weigh the Calorimeter and record the weight.
• Add 50 mL of cold water from the tap into the Calorimeter.
• Weigh the Calorimeter again with the cold water in it and record it.
• Place thermometer into Calorimeter to get initial temperature of the cold water.
This will also serve as the initial temperature of the Calorimeter.
• Use the Weight of the Calorimeter minus the weight of the Calorimeter with the
cold water to find the mass of the cold water.
• Fill boiler ⅔. After weighing everything required, place copper in boiler and heat it.
• Record initial temp of water in calorimeter, transfer metal to water and record the
final temp and calculate specific heat.

Results & Analysis