Measurement of specific heat capacity • mechanical method

Label This Diagram

a - boiling water

b - heat source

c - metal shaving

d - tube

e - insulation

f - water

g - calorimeter

h - lid

i - thermometer

Method • 1

• Boil tube of metal shavings in water

• Measure initial temperature of metal shavings

Method • 2

• Measure mass of calorimeter

• Add cold water

Method • 3

• Measure mass of calorimeter + water

• Calculate mass of water

Method • 4

• Measure initial temperature of water

• Add metal shavings to calorimeter

Method • 5

• Measure final temperature

• Calculate temperature change

Method • 6

• Measure mass of calorimeter + water + shavings

• Calculate mass of shavings

Precautions • 1

Avoid splashing when shavings are added

Precautions • 2

Room temperature = initial and final temperature of water to cancel out heat gain and loss errors

Write out the formula used for this experiment

m(s) c(s) temp change (s) = m(w) c(w) temp change (c+w) + m(c) w(c) temp change (c+w)