Name:

Calorimetry Lab Data Sheet

Sample Identification Letter:

Give a qualitative description of the metal block. What color is it? How does its density compare to other
blocks? Is it magnetic?

Trial 1

Heat Gained Heat Lost

Cup Water Block

m: m: m:

C:
+
C: = C : Unknown
Ti : Ti : Ti :
Tf : Tf : Tf :
T : T : T :

Trial 2

Heat Gained Heat Lost

Cup Water Block

m: m: m:
C:
+
C: = C : Unknown

Ti : Ti : Ti :
Tf : Tf : Tf :

T : T : T :

Trial 3

Heat Gained Heat Lost

Cup Water Block

m: m: m:

C:
+
C: = C : Unknown
Ti : Ti : Ti :
Tf : Tf : Tf :

T : T : T :
 Name:
Trial 4

Heat Gained Heat Lost

Cup Water Block

m: m: m:
=
C: + C: C : Unknown

Ti : Ti : Ti :

Tf : Tf : Tf :

On the computer, use the temperature versus time graph to calculate the maximum rate of thermal energy
transfer for each trial.

Rate of energy transfer = line slope =

Trial 1:

Trial 2:

Trial 3:

Trial 4:

Does the maximum rate of thermal energy transfer occur soon after placing the metal block in the
calorimeter, near thermal equilibrium, or somewhere in the middle? Why is this so?
 Name:
Calculate the specific heat (C) of the metal using data from each trial.

Trial 1

(cup mass)(0.897 kJ kg-1 K-1)(cup T) + (water mass)(4.186 kJ kg-1 K-1)(water T) = (block mass)(C)(block T)

Trial 2

Trial 3

Trial 4

Average specific heat of metal:

Material Specific Heat
Aluminum 0.897
Brass 0.376
Copper 0.385
Iron 0.450
Lead 0.127
Steel 0.450
Tin 0.227
Water 4.186
Zinc 0.387