Core Practical: Investigating Specific Heat Capacity (Edexcel IGCSE Physics)

Aim of the Experiment

• The aim of this experiment is to determine the specific heat capacity of a solid and of water by measuring the energy required to increase the temperature of a known amount by one degree

Equipment List

• Resolution of measuring equipment:
  • Thermometer = 0.1 °C
  • Voltmeter = 0.1 V
  • Ammeter = 0.1 A
  • Stopwatch = 0.01 s
  • Digital balance = 0.1 g

Method

Apparatus for heating water and measuring energy supplied

1. Place the beaker on the digital balance and press 'tare'
2. Add approximately 250 ml of water and record the mass of the water using the digital balance
3. Place the immersion heater and thermometer in the water
4. Connect up the circuit as shown in the diagram, with the ammeter in series with the power supply and immersion heater, and the voltmeter in parallel with the immersion heater
5. Record the initial temperature of the water at time 0 s
6. Turn on the power supply, set it at approximately 10 V, and start the stopwatch
7. Record the voltage from the voltmeter and the current from the ammeter
8. Continue to record the temperature, voltage and current every 60 seconds for 10 minutes
9. Repeat steps 2-8, replacing the beaker of water for the solid block of aluminium and starting with recording its mass using the digital balance

• An example of a results table might look like this:

Analysis of Results

• Calculate the energy supplied every 60 seconds using the formula:

  Electrical energy = voltage × current × time

• Where:
  • Electrical energy is measured in Joules (J)
  • Voltage is measured in volts (V)
  • Current is measured in amps (A)
  • Time is measured in seconds (s)

• Calculate the temperature change by subtracting the temperature at time 0 s from the temperature recorded each minute
• The equation for specific heat capacity is:

ΔQ = m × c × ΔT

• Where:
  • ΔQ = change in thermal energy, in joules (J)
  • m = mass of substance, in kilograms (kg)
  • c = specific heat capacity, in joules per kilogram per degree Celsius (J/kg °C)
  • ΔT = change in temperature, in degrees Celsius (°C)

• Plot a graph of the energy supplied (y-axis) against the temperature change multiplied by the average mass (x-axis)
• Calculate the gradient of this graph in the straight line region in order to obtain the specific heat capacity of the water or solid block

The gradient of the graph is equal to the specific heat capacity of the substance, assuming a perfectly efficient immersion heater

Evaluating the Experiment

Systematic Errors:

• Ensure the digital balance is set to zero before taking measurements of mass
• Some water may be lost to the surroundings by evaporation. Calculate an average mass of water (using the mass before the experiment and the mass after) to account for this
• Remember to only take gradients on the straight-line region
  • Before this point the energy supplied is being used to heat the immersion heater itself

Random Errors:

• Stir the water constantly whilst heating it to ensure the temperature measured is the temperature throughout the fluid
• When the current or voltage values appear to be changing between two values next to one another then be consistent in choosing the higher value

Safety Considerations

• The immersion heater will get very hot
  • Make sure not to touch it, and have a heatproof mat ready to place it on

• Make sure that the immersion heater is connected to a Direct Current supply
• The beaker may become unstable with an immersion heater and thermometer resting in it
  • If you feel this is the case then use a clamp stand to hold both

• Wear goggles while heating water
• Make sure to stand up during the whole experiment, to react quickly to any spills