Specific Heat Capacity

Question 1

What is specific heat capacity

Answer 1

The amount of energy required to raise the temperature of one kilogram of the substance by one degree

Question 2

How can you investigate specific heat capacity

Answer 2

1. Get a block of material and put 2 holes in it
2. Measure the mass of the block
3. Wrap it in an insulating layer e.g. newspaper to reduce the energy transferred to the surroundings
4. Insert the thermometer and heater in the 2 holes
   The heater should be attached to a power supply and ammeter
5. Measure the initial temperature and set the p.d of the power supply to 10V
6. Turn on the power supply and start the stopwatch
7. The current does work on the heater transferring energy electrically from power supply to heaters thermal energy store. This is then transferred to the materials thermal energy store by heating
8. Take measurements of the current and temperature every 10 mins
9. After 10 readings use P=VI to calculate the power and then use E=PT to find energy transferred
10. Plot a graph and use the gradient to do 1/(gradient x mass of block)
11. Repeat with different materials