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6 New Physics at Work (Second Edition) Oxford University Press 2007

Class: Name: ( ) Date:


Measuring the specific heat capacity
of water
Fig 2b-1
Experiment 2b
2b
1 low voltage immersion heater
(50 W 12 V)
1 power pack (012 V a.c./d.c.)
1 joulemeter
1 thermometer
1 polystyrene cup with lid
(~250 cm
3
)
1 stirrer
1 electronic balance
Apparatus
Background information
The specific heat capacity c of a substance is the energy transferred by
heating needed to raise the temperature of 1 kg of the substance through
1 C. It is given by the equation: c =

Q
mT
.
To measure the specific heat capacity of water.
Objective
Procedure
1 (a) Measure 0.2 kg of tap water in a polystyrene cup using an
electronic balance.
(b) Immerse an immersion heater, a stirrer and a thermometer in
water through the holes of a lid. Cover the cup with the lid
(Fig 2b-1).
Note
A polystyrene cup takes
very little energy from
the heater. It can also
reduce the energy loss to
the surroundings.
water
thermometer
joulemeter
12 V a.c.
power supply
stirrer
immersion heater
Do not touch the heating
part of the heater until it
has cooled down.
The dials on the
joulemeter are read
correct to the nearest
100 J. For more accurate
results, the graduations
on the rotating disc (to
the nearest 1 J) should
be read.
7 New Physics at Work (Second Edition) Oxford University Press 2007
Class: Name: ( ) Date: Experiment 2b
Precaution
Immerse the heating
part of the heater
totally in the water. This
maximizes the energy
transferred to the water
and avoids the heater
from overheating.
Precaution
Stir the water before
reading the temperature
of it. This ensures a
uniform temperature
throughout the water.
(c) Record the initial temperature of water.
(d) Record the initial joulemeter reading.
2 (a) Switch on the heater. Stir the water continuously while heating.
(b) Switch off the heater when the temperature of water has risen by
about 10 C.
(c) Stir the water continuously and record the highest temperature
reached as the final temperature.
(d) Record the final joulemeter reading.
3 Record the results below and calculate the specific heat capacity of
water.
Results:
Mass of water m = __________ kg
Initial temperature of water T
1
= __________ C
Final temperature of water T
2
= __________ C
Temperature change of water T = T
2
T
1
= __________ C
Initial joulemeter reading J
1
= __________ J
Final joulemeter reading J
2
= __________ J
Energy supplied by heater Q = J
2
J
1
= __________ J
Specific heat capacity of water c =
Q
mT

= __________ J kg
1
C
1
Discussion
What are the possible sources of error in this experiment?
How is the result of specific heat capacity affected by each of the
above errors?
Water is a bad
conductor.
Highlight the
following to Ss: energy
is transferred (lost) to
heat up the surrounding
air, the heater and the
thermometer, etc. Ss may
have a misconception
that surroundings means
only the surrounding air.
The heater is much
hotter than the water
when it is just switched
off. It takes time for the
energy to be transferred
from the heater to the
water.
The possible sources
of error should match
the measured value of c:
e.g. c > 4200 J kg
1
C
1
energy lost to the
surroundings
c < 4200 J kg
1
C
1
energy
gained from the
surroundings
0.2
20
37
17
77 540
92 570
15 030
4420
Energy is lost to the surroundings. It is transferred (lost) to heat up the surrounding
air, the heater, the thermometer, etc. The temperature of water is not uniform (water
is not properly stirred).
If energy is lost to the surroundings, more energy is supplied for the water to have
the same increase in temperature, so the result will become higher.
If the temperature of water is not uniform, the temperature of water will not be equal
to the measured temperature, so the result will become either higher or lower.
8 New Physics at Work (Second Edition) Oxford University Press 2007
Class: Name: ( ) Date: Experiment 2b
Further thinking
How will the result of the specific heat capacity be affected if this
experiment is repeated using hot water at initial temperature of
60 C? Explain your answer.
The rate of energy
loss increases with the
temperature of water.
Hint
1 The specific heat capacity of water is the energy transferred
by heating needed to raise the temperature of water of mass
through .
2 The standard value of the specific heat capacity of water is

J kg
1
C
1
.
Suggest ways to improve the accuracy of this experiment.
Wrap the polystyrene cup with cotton wool.
Use a lid made of good insulator, e.g. polystyrene.
As the initial temperature of water increases, the temperature of water throughout the
experiment becomes higher. Therefore, the rate of energy loss increases. To increase
the same amount of temperature, more energy is supplied. The result of specifc heat
capacity will become much higher.
1 kg 1 C
4200
This is because the rate
of energy loss depends on
the temperature difference
between the hot water and
the surroundings.

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