Energy
Specific Heat Capacity Required Practical
To investigate the specific heat capacity of a material and explain how energy losses affect the result.

What you will learn

How to set up the specific heat capacity practical

How to measure mass and temperature change

How to measure energy supplied to the heater

How to calculate specific heat capacity from results

Why energy losses affect the answer
Explanation
Measure the mass of a block, the energy supplied and its temperature rise. Use an electric heater and joulemeter, or calculate supplied energy from power and time. Insulation and good thermal contact reduce energy losses; supplied energy can exceed the energy gained by the block. Example: Select a method for measuring supplied energy. Read a joulemeter, or measure power and heating time then use E = Pt. A correct answer needs an appropriate unit as well as a numerical value. Justify your answer.
