Lab #3
Specific Heat
By: Rendol Williams
Mr. Smith
Irmo High School
4A Physics SL
Wednesday, November 16, 2011
Design
ASPECT 1:
The purpose of this lab is to prove an understanding of the concept of calorimetry, and establish a basic knowledge of applying those skills in the category of specific heat capacity. Through this experiment we will outline a method for determining specific heat capacities experimentally in lab. Specific heat represents the amount of thermal energy required to change the mass of one kilogram of a substance by one Kelvin. We will manipulate the equation Q=mc∆T to calculate various quantitative data that will inevitably lead to us an experimental specific heat capacity that we could compare to the actual or accepted value. We will also exercise the use of thermal equilibrium as we experiment in moving heat from a warmer body to a colder body in the form of thermal energy. The amount of heat lost must equal the amount of heat gained as stated in The Law of Conservation of Energy and it will prove to be very important in the proper execution of this lab. A student’s overall success in this lab will be measured not by the calculated data being accurate but rather in the calculations showing an understanding of the manipulation of the formula Q=mc∆T and its uncertainties. This lab will bring a real world application to this concept and give students hands on experience with specific heat.
ASPECT 2:
Controlling Variables:
- Constant temperature (100° C) of the metals that we are using to find their specific heats.
- Same scale and thermometer used for measurements
- Same amount of water used each time.
ASPECT 3:
Procedure:
- Obtain a Styrofoam cup and weigh it empty without water on a triple beam balance, then fill with water about 50% full and weigh again.
- Set up Logger Pro apparatus with temperature probe attached and place it in the cup and find the initial temperature of the water.
- Acquire a metal that has been boiling at 100° C and quickly place it into the cup and monitor the temperature using the probe until it reaches thermal equilibrium.
- Once the sample has reached thermal equilibrium remove the metal from the cup and dry it off then weigh it on the triple beam balance.
- Repeat Steps (2-4) three more times each time using a different metal.
