Required Practical 1: Specific Heat Capacity

Vocabulary and formulas from the Required Practical 1: Specific Heat Capacity lecture notes, including experimental variables, equations, and metal properties.

Specific Heat Capacity

The amount of heat energy ($J$) needed to increase the temperature of $1\,kg$ copper by $1\,^{\circ}C$.

Heat Capacity

The amount of heat energy ($J$) needed to increase the temperature by $1\,^{\circ}C$ ($1/\text{gradient}$).

Power (watts) Formula

$$\text{power (watts)} = \text{potential difference (V)} \times \text{current (I)}$$

Work done (joules, J) Formula

$$\text{work done (joules, J)} = \text{time (seconds, S)} \times \text{power (watts, W)}$$

Specific Heat Capacity Formula

$$\text{specific heat capacity} = \frac{\text{heat}}{\text{mass (kg)} \times \text{temperature change (}^{\circ}C\text{)}}$$

Gradient (of temperature vs. work done graph)

$$\text{gradient} = \frac{\text{change in temperature rise (}^{\circ}C\text{)}}{\text{work done (J)}}$$

Independent variable

Time

Dependent variable

Change in temperature

Control variables

Block materials, current, and voltage/PD.

12V immersion heater

Equipment used to heat up blocks of different metals.

Pipette (for water)

Used to put a small amount of water in the thermometer hole to improve thermal conductivity.

Insulation

Material wrapped around the metal block to minimize heat dissipation into the surroundings.

Copper (properties)

Density: $8.96\,g/cm^3$; Specific heat capacity: $385\,J/kg/^{\circ}C$.

Aluminium (properties)

Density: $2.70\,g/cm^3$; Specific heat capacity: $913\,J/kg/^{\circ}C$.

Iron (properties)

Density: $7.87\,g/cm^3$; Specific heat capacity: $500\,J/kg/^{\circ}C$.

Joulemeter

A device that can be used to calculate energy directly to reduce measurement errors.

Zero error

A systematic error that could occur if the ammeter and voltmeter are not initially set to zero.

William's Hypothesis (Density vs. SHC)

Hypothesis that denser materials have higher specific heat capacities; rejected because aluminium ($2.70\,g/cm^3$) has a higher SHC ($913\,J/kg/^{\circ}C$) than copper ($8.96\,g/cm^3$).