SUPPLEMENTARY QUESTIONS

THERMAL PROPERTIES OF MATERIALS: Simple Kinetic Model, Specific

Heat Capacities, Specific Latent Heat.
1.

Describe the changes to the kinetic energy, the potential energy, and
the total internal energy of the molecules of a block of ice as:
a.

it melts at 0 C, [kinetic energy remains constant, potential energy

increases, internal energy increases]

b.

the temperature of the water rises from 0 C to room

temperature. [kinetic energy increases, no change in potential
energy, internal energy increases]

2.

How much heat is absorbed by a 2.8 kg brick sitting in the sun while its
temperature rises from 18 C to 28 C? The specific heat capacity of a
brick is 750 J kg-1 K-1. [21000 J]

3.

In an experiment to determine a value for the specific heat capacity of

water two students found that the temperature of 0.15 kg of water
rose from 17 C to 35 C as the water absorbed 11 kJ of heat energy.
What value did they obtain? [4100 J kg-1 K-1]

4.

In the figure below a hypothetical temperature time curve has been

drawn for 0.60 kg of a solid which is warmed in a well insulated
container by a 100 W heater.

a.

What is the melting point of the solid? [20 C]

b.

Which is greater, the substances specific latent heat of fusion or

vaporisation? [specific latent heat of vaporisation]

c.

Which is greatest: the substances specific heat capacity as a solid,

liquid or gas? [liquid]

d.

Determine its specific latent heat of fusion.[20 kJ kg-1]

e.

What is its specific heat capacity as a liquid? [1.2 kJ kg-1 K-1]

5.

A copper calorimeter has a mass of 50 g and contains 85 g of water at

16 C. 6.0 g of dried ice is then added and then the contents stirred
until all the ice has melted. What is the temperature of the mixture?
Specific heat capacity of copper = 380 J kg-1 K-1; specific heat capacity
of water = 4190 J kg-1 K-1; specific latent heat of fusion of ice = 334 kJ
kg-1. [10 C]

6.

In an expresso coffee machine steam is bubbled through 200 g of

coffee flavoured milk taken from a refrigerator at 2 C. If the final
temperature of the coffee is 90 C, what mass of steam condensed?
Specific heat capacity of coffee = 4200 J kg-1 K-1; specific latent heat of
vaporisation of water = 2.26 MJ kg-1. [0.032 kg]

7.

If 4200 J of heat energy are required to vaporise 5.0 g of ethanol at its

boiling point, what is the specific latent heat of vaporisation of
ethanol? [8.4 105 J kg-1]

8.

A 2100 W electric kettle containing 1.00 kg of water has just come to

boil. The specific latent heat of vaporisation of water = 2.26 MJ kg-1.
a.

How much energy is required to boil all the water away? [2.26 MJ]

b.

How long (to the nearest minute) for the kettle to boil dry? [18
min]

a.

A 500 W kettle contains 300 g of water at 20 C. Calculate the

minimum time it would take to raise the temperature of the water
to boiling point. [201 seconds]

b.

The kettle is allowed to boil for 2 minutes. Calculate the mass of

the water that remains in the kettle. State any assumptions you
make. [273 g; no energy lost to surroundings, all vapour escapes
from kettle] (Specific heat capacity of water = 4.18 103 J kg-1 K-1,
specific latent heat of vaporisation of water = 2.26 106 J kg-1)

a.

Explain what is meant by the specific heat capacity of a substance.

b.

The figure below shows an apparatus used to measure the

specific heat capacity of a copper block of mass 850 g.

9.

10.

The block is initially at 12 C. The heater is switched on and the

time taken for the temperature to rise to 30 C is recorded. The
block is cooled to the original temperature, the potential
difference across the heater is increased and the experiment is
repeated.
The results are shown in the table.

Explain why a thermocouple thermometer is suitable for this

experiment. [small heat capacity, quick acting]

ii

Explain why the experiment is repeated using a different

power input.[to allow for energy losses to surroundings]

iii

Calculate the specific heat capacity of copper.[372 J kg-1 K-1]