Required Practical: Specific Heat Capacity

This experiment shows you how to measure the SPECIFIC HEAT CAPACITY of a substance like aluminium.

EQUIPMENT NEEDED

• METAL BLOCK: Made of the material you are testing, like aluminium, with holes for the heater and thermometer.
• IMMERSION HEATER: To provide heat to the metal block.
• THERMOMETER: To measure the temperature of the metal block.
• INSULATION: To minimise heat loss from the metal block.
• JOULEMETER: To measure the amount of energy used.
• MASS BALANCE: To measure the mass of the metal block.
• BATTERY PACK: To supply power to the immersion heater.

PROCEDURE

1. MEASURING MASS:
   • Use the MASS BALANCE to measure the mass of the metal block. Record the value.
2. SETTING UP THE EXPERIMENT:
   • Place the metal block into insulation and insert both the IMMERSION HEATER and THERMOMETER into the appropriate holes in the block.
   • Connect the IMMERSION HEATER to the BATTERY PACK and the JOULEMETER.

 

3. HEATING AND MEASURING:
   • Turn on the IMMERSION HEATER to start heating the metal block.
   • Record the initial temperature from the THERMOMETER and the initial energy from the JOULEMETER.
4. CALCULATING SPECIFIC HEAT CAPACITY:
   • Once you have finished heating, turn OFF the heater.
   • Record the final temperature and energy readings.
   • Use the SPECIFIC HEAT CAPACITY equation.

Here's an example of a calculation you can do after this experiment:

 

You can do a similar experiment for finding out the specific heat capacity of a liquid. 

Use a polystyrene cup with a lid to minimise heat lost to the surroundings, to make calculations more ACCURATE.