Name of the experiment: To determine the specific heat of a liquid by the

method of cooling

1.1 Objectives:
The main objective of this experiment is to determine the specific heat of a given liquid by
Newton’s cooling method.
1.2 Pre-lab:
Student should read the lab manual and have clear idea about the objective, time frame and
outcomes of the lab.
1.3 Outcomes:
After completing this lab work student will be able to answer the following questions:
• What do you mean by the statement specific heat capacity?
• Define specific heat capacity a substance. How do you measure the specific heat capacity
of a liquid using the method of cooling?
• On what principal Newton’s law of cooling depends?
• Explanation of the theory for determining the specific heat of a liquid by the method of
cooling.
• What is the principle of calorimetry?
1.4 Timing and Length of Investigation (Total 4 Hours):
• Lab Preparation (10 minutes):
▪ Students will sit for the lab class with preparations and class attendance will
be taken.
• Lecture on Theory (20 minutes):
▪ Teacher will clarify the objective and theory of the experiment.
• Lecture on Procedure (15 minutes):
▪ Demonstrator will make the students understand the procedure of the
experiment.
• Experimental Work (80 to 90 minutes):
▪ Design of experiment: 10 minutes
▪ Data collection: 50 minutes
▪ Data analysis, drawing graphs, and completing the result part: 20 to 30
minutes
• Post Lab Discussion (10 to 20 minutes):
▪ Teacher will summarize the total lab work and have a discussion with the
students related to the questions given in the outcomes part.
• Report Preparation & Submission (30 minutes):
▪ After completing the lab reports on Microsoft words, students will submit
their lab reports in the next class as groups.
 • Lab Viva (30-60 minutes):
▪ After completing the lab reports on Microsoft words, students will submit
their lab reports in the class and teacher will take viva on the experiment

1.5 Theory:
The amount of heat, needed to increase the temperature of unit mass of a material by 1°C is called
the specific heat of that material. It is denoted by S.
In the same environment, rate of change of cooling of an object is directly proportional to the
difference of temperature between the object and the surrounding. This is the theory of cooling
method. Difference of temperature of the object and the surrounding must be small. When a liquid
is heated of higher temperature and placed to cool. Then the rate of heat lost by a temperature of
the liquid is directly proportional to the difference in temperature of the surrounding.

Figure-1: calorimeter placed in a two-walled chamber.

Suppose the mass of the calorimeter along with the stirrer = 𝑚 kg

Specific heat of the material of the calorimeter and stirrer= 𝑆 J kg-1K-1
Mass of the experimental liquid in the calorimeter = 𝑀1 kg
Specific heat of the liquid = 𝑆1 J kg-1K-1
Time taken to cool the liquid from temperature 𝜃10 to 𝜃20 = 𝑡1 sec
Mass of water having volume equal to that of the liquid = 𝑀2 kg
Specific heat of water = 𝑆2 J kg-1 K-1
Time taken to cool water from temperatures, 𝜃10 to 𝜃20 = 𝑡2 sec
 (𝑀1 𝑆1 +𝑚𝑆)(𝜃1 −𝜃2 )
So, rate of cooling of the liquid = Js-1
𝑡1

(𝑀2 𝑆2 +𝑚𝑆)(𝜃1 −𝜃2 )

and rate of cooling of water = Js-1
𝑡2

According to Newton’s law of cooling, rate of cooling in these two cases is equal. so,

(𝑀1 𝑆1 +𝑚𝑆)(𝜃1 −𝜃2 ) (𝑀2 𝑆2 +𝑚𝑆)(𝜃1 −𝜃2 )

Js-1 = Js-1
𝑡1 𝑡2

𝑀2 𝑆2 𝑡1 + 𝑚𝑆(𝑡1 − 𝑡2 )
∴ 𝑆1 =
𝑀1 𝑡2

1.6 Apparatus: A calorimeter with a stirrer, a chamber having two walls, a sensitive
thermometer, balance, burner, stop-watch etc.

1.7 Procedure:

1. Clean and dry the calorimeter and weigh it empty with the stirrer only.
2. Heat some water and liquid in two separate identical calorimeters to about 70-750C and
place them in a double walled chamber.
3. Place the calorimeter lids and insert a thermometer into each calorimeter.
4. Gently stir the water and note the temperatures of both the thermometers at an interval of
one minute. Go on doing this till the temperatures fall to about 50 above the room
temperature.
5. Now cool the calorimeters to room temperature and weigh them again. Hence determine
the mass of water and liquid.
6. Plot the two cooling curves- one for water and the other for liquid on the same piece of
graph paper with time as the abscissa and temperature as the ordinate.
7. From the curves, determine the time taken by the water and the liquid to cool through the
same range of temperature which should be about 200 C.
8. Considering all the observations, calculate the specific heat of the given liquid.
1.8 Results:
Table for Time-Temperature Record
No. of Time (min) Temperature (0C)
observation Water Liquid
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
1.9 Calculations:

Mass of the calorimeter + stirrer, 𝑚 = … … … … … … 𝑔𝑚

Sp. heat of the material of the calorimeter, 𝑆 = ⋯ … … … … … … … . 𝑐𝑎𝑙𝑔𝑚−1 ℃−1

Mass of the calorimeter + stirrer +water, 𝑚2 = ⋯ … … … … … … … . 𝑔𝑚

Mass of the water, 𝑀2 = 𝑚2 − 𝑚 = ⋯ … … … … … … … … 𝑔𝑚

Specific heat of water, 𝑆2 = ⋯ … … … … … . 𝑐𝑎𝑙𝑔𝑚−1 ℃−1

Mass of the calorimeter + stirrer +liquid, 𝑚1 = ⋯ … … … … … … . . 𝑔𝑚

Mass of the liquid, 𝑀1 = 𝑚1 − 𝑚 = ⋯ … … … … … … … … . 𝑔𝑚

Time taken to cool by the liquid, 𝑡1 = ⋯ … … … … … sec

Time taken to cool by the water, 𝑡2 = ⋯ … … … … .. sec

So, the specific heat of liquid,

𝑀2 𝑆2 𝑡1 + 𝑚𝑆(𝑡1 − 𝑡2 )
𝑆1 =
𝑀1 𝑡2

⇒ 𝑆1 = − − − − − − − − − − − − − − − − − − − − − − − − − − − −

∴ 𝑆1 = ⋯ … … … … … … … … … … . 𝑐𝑎𝑙𝑔𝑚−1 ℃−1

(𝐸𝑥𝑝𝑉𝑎𝑙𝑢𝑒−𝑅𝑒𝑓𝑉𝑎𝑙𝑢𝑒)
Percentage difference= × 100 %
𝑅𝑒𝑓𝑉𝑎𝑙𝑢𝑒

Results:
The specific heat of liquid is ………………………….

1.10 Discussions:

1.12 Resources:
For further understanding, students may go through the following resources:
• Fundamentals of Physics: 18.4 Absorption of Heat (Chapter: 18, Page: 524, 525).
• Practical Physics (by Dr. Giasuddin Ahmed & Md. Shahabuddin): Exp. 26: To
determine the specific heat of a liquid by the method of cooling (Page-146)
• Video Link:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ORSZdpbxPHg
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TIR7b572XAg
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5we65e7EOcg