9 New Physics at Work (Second Edition) Oxford University Press 2007

Class: Name: ( ) Date: Experiment 2c

Measuring the specific heat capacity of
aluminium
2c
several 1-kg metal blocks
(aluminium, iron, copper, brass,
steel)
1 low voltage immersion heater
(50 W 12 V)
1 power pack (012 V a.c./d.c.)
1 joulemeter
1 thermometer
1 polystyrene tile
1 bottle of oil
cotton wool
Apparatus
Background information
The specific heat capacity c of a substance is the energy transferred by
heating needed to raise the temperature of 1 kg of the substance through
1 C. It is given by the equation: c =
Q
mT
.
To measure the specific heat capacity of aluminium.
Objective
Procedure
1 (a) Add a few drops of oil to the holes in an aluminium block.
Insert an immersion heater and a thermometer into the holes
(Fig 2c-1).
Precaution
1 Air is a poor conductor
of heat. Oil is added
to the holes of the
block to ensure a
good thermal contact
between the heater,
the thermometer and
the block.
2 The block is placed on
a polystyrene tile. This
minimizes the energy
loss to the bench.
Fig 2c-1
Do not touch the heating
part of the heater until it
has cooled down.
joulemeter
12 V a.c.
power supply
thermometer
aluminium block
cotton wool
polystyrene tile
immersion heater
10 New Physics at Work (Second Edition) Oxford University Press 2007
Experiment 2c Class: Name: ( ) Date:
Precaution
Insert the heating part of
the heater totally into the
block before switching
it on. This avoids the
heater from overheating.
Precaution
This allows time for the
energy to be conducted
from the heater to the
whole block.
Aluminium
Mass m / kg
Initial temperature T
1
/ C
Final temperature T
2
/ C
Temperature change (T = T
2
T
1
) / C
Initial joulemeter reading J
1
/ J
Final joulemeter reading J
2
/ J
Energy supplied by heater (Q = J
2
J
1
) / J
Specific heat capacity
(c =
Q
mT
) / J kg
1
C
1
(b) Wrap the block with cotton wool and place it on a polystyrene
tile.
(c) Record the initial temperature of the block.
(d) Record the initial joulemeter reading.
2 (a) Switch on the heater.
(b) Switch off the heater when the temperature of the block has
risen by about 10 C.
(c) Record the highest temperature reached as the final
temperature.
(d) Record the final joulemeter reading.
3 Record the results in Table 2c-1 and calculate the specific heat
capacity of aluminium.
Results:
4 Repeat the experiment with other metal blocks if time allows.
Discussion
Why is the aluminium block wrapped with cotton wool?
Table 2c-1
The dials on the
joulemeter are read
correct to the nearest
100 J. For more
accurate results, the
graduations on the
rotating disc (to the
nearest 1 J) should
be read.
1.0
35.0
104 900
28.5
98 300
6.5
6600
1020
This is to reduce energy loss to the surrounding air.
11 New Physics at Work (Second Edition) Oxford University Press 2007
Experiment 2c Class: Name: ( ) Date:
What is the possible source of error in this experiment?
Suggest a way to improve the accuracy of this experiment.
1 The specific heat capacity of aluminium is the energy
transferred by heating needed to raise the temperature
of aluminium of mass ______________________ through
______________________.
2 The standard value of the specific heat capacity of aluminium
is ______________________ J kg
1
C
1
.
Further thinking
Is this experimental method suitable for determining the specific heat
capacity of wood? Explain your answer.

Energy is lost to the surroundings.
Cover the top of the metal block with cotton wool.
No. This is because wood is a bad conductor. It takes very long time for the energy
to be conducted from the heater to the whole block. In such long period of time, the
energy lost to the surroundings will be very signifcant and cause a large error to the
result.
1 kg
1 C
900
The possible sources
of error should match
the measured value of c:
e.g. c > 900 J kg
1
C
1
energy lost to the
surroundings
c < 900 J kg
1
C
1
energy
gained from the
surroundings