Specific Heat Capacity

The specific heat capacity of a substance is the amount of energy required to raise the temperature of 1kg of the substance by 1°C.

• Place a beaker on a balance and press zero.

• Now add oil to the beaker and record the mass of the oil.

• Place a thermometer and an immersion heater into the oil.

• Read the starting temperature of the oil.

• Wrap the beaker in insulating foam to reduce thermal energy transfer to the surroundings.

• Connect a joulemeter to the immersion heater

• Time for thirty minutes.

• Read the number of joules of energy that passed into the immersion heater.

• Read the final temperature of the oil.

• Calculate specific heat capacity using equation.

Sources of inaccuracy

Thermal energy passing out of the beaker into the air

Use an insulator with lower thermal conductivity

Not all thermal energy passing into the oil

Ensure that immersion heater is fully submerged

Incorrect reading of thermometer

Use an electronic temperature probe

Thermal energy may not spread through the oil

Stir the oil