Download Specific Heat Capacity - Tasker Milward

Specific Heat Capacity
Specific Heat Capacity
• The specific heat capacity is the amount of
energy required to increase the
temperature of 1kg of a substance by 1˚C
• We will calculate the specific heat capacity
of water by heating it with an electrical
heater and measuring the energy required
for a fixed temperature rise.
Instructions
• Heat 100ml of water using the immersion heater provided.
• Monitor the voltage and current of the heater using an ammeter and voltmeter.
• Make a note of the voltage across the heater and the current drawn.
• Record the time taken for the temperature to increase by 15˚C
• Calculate the Power of the heater using the formula Power = Voltage x current
• Calculate the total energy supplied to the heater using Energy = Power x time
• Calculate the Energy required to heat the water by 1˚C by dividing the total
energy used by 15
• Calculate the Energy required to heat 1kg (1000ml) of water by 1˚C by multiplying
this value by 10.
• Voila! You have calculated the specific heat capacity of water!