LESSON 2 – Solution

UNDERSTANDING
SPECIFIC HEAT
CAPACITY, c Example 2

8.4 x 10 5 J of heat energy raises the

Definition and the S.I unit of temperature of 4 kg of water from
Specific Heat Capacity ,c 40oC to 90oC . What is the specific
heat capacity of the water?
The specific heat capacity of a
material is defined as the amount of
heat required to raise the
temperature of 1 kg of the substance
through a temperature of 1oC.

The S.I. unit for c is J kg-1 oC-1

Solution
A substance with a large specific heat
capacity( able to store a lot of heat )
will experience a smaller temperature
rise when absorbing heat and vice
versa.
Mixtures
The relationship between m,c, θ
Whenever two materials are at
and Q
different temperatures and in thermal
contact, the hotter material will lose
Q = mc energy by transfer to the colder one
θ until both come to the same
temperature. They are now in thermal
Where,
equilibrium.
Q = the heat energy transferred
to the
Example 3
substance
m = the mass of the substance
0.2 kg of water at 100oC is mixed
c = the specific heat capacity
0.25 kg of water at 10oC. What is the
of the
maximum temperature reached by the
substance
mixture?
θ = the temperature change
Solution
Example 1

A metal of mass 2 kg. Calculate the

amount of heat that must be
transferred to the metal to raise the
temperature from 30oC to 70oC
(specific capacity of the metal = 500 J
kg -1 o C-1 )
To determine the specific heat
capacity of a solid ( aluminium
cylinder)

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The electrical power of the heater is
recorded = P
The mass of the aluminium cylinder is
recorded = m
The initial temperature of the
aluminium is read off the thermometer
=θ 1
The electric heater is switched on and
the stop watch is started
simultaneously.
After heating for a time , t , the
heater is switched off.
The maximum reading on the
thermometer is recorded = θ 2
Calculate the heat supplied by the
heater = Pt
Calculate the heat absorbed by the
aluminum cylinder = mc ( θ 2-θ 1)
On the assumption that there is no
heat loss to surroundings;,
Pt = mc (θ 2-θ 1)
c = Pt . read off the thermometer = θ 1
m (θ 2-θ 1)
Precautions
(1) Insulates the aluminium
cylinder with felt cloth or wool
to decrease the loss of heat to
the surroundings.
(2) Some oil is poured into the hole
before the thermometer is
inserted to ensure more perfect
heat conduction.
Discussions
The value of the specific heat
capacity of aluminium ,c
determined in the experiment is
larger than the standard value of
c.
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This is because the experimental
value of the temperature rise ,θ
less than the expected
temperature rise due to some heat
loss to the surroundings.
The smaller the temperature θ ,
the greater the
specific heat capacity because c↑
= Pt
mθ↓
To determine the specific heat
capacity of a solid ( aluminium
cylinder)
The electrical power of the heater is
recorded = P
The empty beaker is weighed and its
mass is recorded = m1
The beaker is filled with water and the
beaker is weighed again and it mass is
recorded = m2
The initial temperature of the water is
The electric heater is switched on and
the stop watch is started
simultaneously.
After heating for a time , t , the
heater is switched off.
The maximum reading on the
thermometer is recorded = θ 2
Calculate the heat supplied by the
heater = Pt
Calculate the heat absorbed by the
water
= ( m2 - m1)c (θ 2-θ 1)
On the assumption that there is no
heat loss to surroundings;,
Pt = ( m2 - m1)c (θ 2-θ 1)
c = Pt .
( m2 - m1) (θ 2-θ 1)
Precautions
 (1) The water must be stirred
continuously to ensure its
temperature is uniform.
(2) The beaker should be wrapped
with a tissue or felt cloth and
placed on a polystyrene sheet
to prevent heat loss to the
surroundings and the table.
Discussions
The value of the specific heat
capacity of water ,c determined in
the experiment is larger than the
standard value of c.
This is because the experimental
value of the temperature rise ,θ
less than the expected
temperature rise due to some heat
loss to the surroundings.
The smaller the temperature θ ,
the greater the
specific heat capacity because c↑
= Pt
mθ↓
Example 4
A 2 kW,240 V electric heater is used
to raise the temperature of 3 kg of
water. If power is supplied for 8
minutes, what is the increase in
temperature of the water?
(The specific heat capacity of water is
4200 J kg -1 o C-1)
Solution
Example 5
10
A 1.2 kW immersion heater is used to
raise the 0.2 kg water in a copper
container of mass 0.05 kg . Calculate
the time taken so that the
temperature of the water and the
container are increased by 20oC.
(The specific capacity of water =
4200 J kg -1 o C-1
The specific of cooper = 400 J kg -1 o
C-1)
Solution
Applications of specific heat
capacity of a substance.
1. Cooking instruments
Cooking instruments such as frying
pans, pots, kettles, electric iron and so
on
made of substances with low specific
heat
capacities . This is because they can
quickly heated up when there is only
small
heat absorption.
The handle of the cooking
instruments
are made by the substances with high
specific heat capacities. This is
because
these materials undergo a small heat
change while heat is released or
absorbed.
So , the handles are not too hot to be
held
by the bare hands.
2. Water
Water has a very high specific heat
capacity. This makes it very useful for
storing energy. For a given rise in
temperature , water can store more
energy than most other substances;
as it cools , it releases this energy
again. It is fortunate that water is
cheap , safe and readily available.

In daytime the sun warms the land to

In a central heating system water is
good at storing energy and carrying it
from the boiler to the radiators, as it
cools there it releases a lot of energy
into the room. The system is
commonly used in cold countries
to heat and keep houses warm.
In a car engine cooling system , water
is circulated through pipes around the
engine block to absorb energy from
the hot engine and so to keep it cool.
From the cylinder block ,the water
passes into radiator where it is cooled
by air drawn in by radiator fan.
The cool water is re-circulated
through the engine to absorb the heat
and this cycle is repeated continuously
while the engine is running.
higher temperature than the sea.
It is because land has a lower specific
heat capacity than sea-water.
The air above the land is heated and
rises, and its place is taken by cooler
air above the sea moving inland
(convection currents)
Air higher in the atmosphere
completes the circulation , and hence
a sea-breeze is obtained.
At night the sea temperature drops
only slightly , since it is warmed to a
considerable depth during the day. On
the other hand , the land temperature
drops considerably at night. This time,
therefore , a convection current is
obtained in the opposite direction to
daytime, and this is a land-breeze.

3. Sea breeze and Land breeze

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 TUTORIA
1 Heat energy is supplied at the
same rate to 0.4 kg of substance
P and 0.4 kg of substance Q in
similar containers. The
temperature of substance P rises
faster.
This is because the substance P

A is less dense than substance Q

B is more dense than substance
Q
C evaporates less readily than
substance Q
D has a smaller specific heat
capacity than substance Q

2 The diagram shows solid blocks M

and N of equal mass, which are
being heated. The initial
temperature of M and N is the
same and heated by the same
amount of energy.

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 A The specific heat capacity of W
is half the
specific heat capacity X.
B The specific heat capacity of W
is twice the
It observed that M is hot faster specific heat capacity X.
than N. This observation is due to C The specific heat capacity of W
the difference in is same as the specific heat
capacity X.
A density
B melting point 5 What is the energy released by a
C latent heat of fusion metal block of mass 5.0 kg when
D specific heat capacity it is cooled from 30o C to
20 o C .
3 The diagrams show four types of (specific heat capacity of the
metal block of the same mass metal =
being heated using the same 500 J kg-1o C -1)
quantity of heat for 10 minutes.
Which metal block shows the A 1.25 x 104 J B 2.5 x 104 J
highest increase in the C 5.0 x 104 J D 6.25 x 104 J
temperature? E 8.85 x 104 J

6 3 200 J of energy is absorbed by a

copper block of mass 0.1 kg when
it is heated from 30o C to 110 o C.
What is the specific heat capacity
of copper?

A 200 J kg-1 o C -1 B 400 J

kg-1 o C-1
C 800 J kg-1 o C -1 D
1000Jkg-1oC -1
E 2000Jkg-1oC -1

7 When 0.6 kg water of 40o C is

4 The diagrams represent two mixed with 0.4 kg water of 90o C,
beakers contain liquid W and liquid what is the final temperature of
X respectively. Each liquids the mixture?
receiving the same heat energy Q.
A 55o C B 60o C
C 65o C D 70o C
D 75o C

8 0.5 kg liquid M at 40o C is mixed

with 2 kg liquid N at 25o C. The
mixture is stirred . What is the
Which statement about W and X is maximum temperature reached by
correct? the mixture?

13
 ( specific heat capacity of liquid M (specific heat capacity = 4.2 x 103
= 8.4 x 103 J kg -1oC-1)
J kg -1o C-1)
( specific heat capacity of liquid N A 76 s B 168 s
= 4.2 x 103 C 184 s D 340 s
J kg -1 o C-1 ) E 520 s

A 28o C B 30o C
C 32.5o C D 34.5o C
E 38.5o C

9 A beaker is filled with 2 kg of

water at 30 o C . 12 The diagram shows the
A plumbum sphere of mass 1.5 kg temperature – time graph of a
at 90o C is placed in the beaker. liquid . The liquid is heated by
The final temperature reached by using a 0.4 kW heater . The mass
the water and the sphere are of the liquid is
31.5o C . 0.2 kg .
What is the specific heat capacity
of plumbum?
( specific heat capacity of water =
4.2 x 103
J kg -1 o C-1,

A 144 J kg -1 o C-1B 568 J kg

-1oC-1
C 1425 J kg -1 o C-1 D 2070J
kg-1oC-1
E 3020 J kg-1oC-1 What is the specific heat capacity
of the liquid?

A 1000 J kg -1 o C-1
10 A 240 V, 2 kW electric heater is B 2000 J kg -1o C-1
immersed in C 3000 J kg -1 o C-1
6 kg of a liquid and switched on D 4000 J kg -1 o C-1
for 5 minutes. E 5000 J kg -1 o C-1
What is the rise in temperature of
the liquid? 13 A metal block is dropped from a
( specific heat capacity of the height of
liquid = 4.2 x 103 J kg -1 o C-1 ) 82 m. What is the rise in the
temperature of the metal block
A 5oC B 10 o C after it hits the ground?
C 15 o C D 18 o C ( specific heat capacity of the
E 24 o C metal block = 410
J kg -1oC-1 )
11 A 800 watt kettle holds 0.5 kg of
water at A 0.5 o C B 1.0 o C
30 o C. It is turned on until the C 2.0 o C D 4.0 o C
water boils. E 8.0 o C
What is the time taken to boil the
water?

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14 A metal block is dropped from a
height building. Which of the
following is not the factor for the
metal block rise in temperature ?
A height of the building
B mass of the metal block
C acceleration due to the gravity
D specific heat of the metal
block
15 An Asteroid of mass 500 kg
travellling in atmosphere with a
velocity 2000 m s-1 . The
temperature of the Asteroid rises
by 10000oC. What is the specific
heat capacity of the
Asteroid ?
C high low
D low low
18 Which of the following is not
related to specific heat capacity of
a substance?
A Refrigerator
B Car radiator
C Cooking instrument
D Land breeze and sea breeze
19 The blocks P and Q in Figure 1
have the same mass. They are
immersed in boiling water for a
long time. P and Q are then
transferred into beakers X and Y
respectively as shown in Figure 2.

A 100 J kg -1 o C-1 B 200 J

kg -1oC-1
C 400 J kg -1 o C-1 D
1000Jkg -1oC-1
E 2000J kg -1o C-1

16 The value of the specific heat

capacity,c of a substance
determined from an experiment is
larger than the standard value of
c.
Figure 1 Figure
A the electric heater is
2
overheating
B the mass of the substance is
decreased
C the temperature rise ,θ less
than the expected The mass of water in both beakers
temperature rise X and Y is 0.25 kg and the initial
temperature of the water in each
17 Which of the following is true?
beaker is the same.
Specific heat Specific
capacity of heat of the Specific heat capacity of P is 900 J
cooking utensil handle of kg-1 o C-1
the Specific heat capacity of Q is 390 J
cooking
kg-1 o C-1
utensil
A high high Specific heat capacity of water is
B low high 4 200 J kg-1 o C-1

15
 (a) (i) State the initial
temperature of the
blocks.

…………………………………
………..
(ii) Why is the final
temperature of the water
in beaker X higher than
that in beaker Y?
(a) Calculate the total heat energy
………………………………… released by the electric
heater.
………..
(b) (i) Calculate the rise in
temperature of
water in beaker Y if block (b) The specific heat capacity of
Q release 8 400 J of heat water is
4200 J kg-1 o C-1.
energy.
Calculate

(i) the heat absorbed by the

water.

(ii) the heat absorbed by the

(ii) State one assumption metal container.
which you have made in
b(i).

(iii) the specific heat capacity

…………………………………
of the metal container.
………..

21 A student carried out an

…………………………………
………..
20 The diagram shows 1.5 kg of water
is poured into a metal container of
mass 2.0 kg. The initial
temperature of the water and the
container are 28o C. An electric
heater of power 0.08 kW takes 10
minutes to heat up the water and
the container to 34o C.
experiment to investigate the
relationship between the
temperature of a liquid when
heated and its mass , m. The
student used the same immersion
heater to heat up different masses
of the liquid in a constant time.
The initial temperature , θ o of the
liquid which is constant and the
final temperature, θ , of the liquid
after being heated are recorded.

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 The results of the experiment is (b) State the relationship between θ
shown in a graph of θ against 1 and m.
shown in the following
m
figure. ……………………………………………
…………..
(c) The specific heat capacity, c, of
the liquid is given by the equation;

c = 4.5 x 104
k

where k is the gradient of the

graph.

(i) Calculate the gradient of the

graph θ
against 1
m
Show on the graph how you
Graph of θ against 1 determine the gradient.
m

(ii) Calculate the value of the

specific heat capacity, c,
of the liquid.
22 (a) The figure shows a food
container used for
keeping the food warm. The
container is
able to maintain the
temperature of food
for a long time. The container
can be
moved from one place to
another.

(a) The initial temperature , θ o , of

the liquid can be determined from
the intercept of the θ -axis. Show
on the graph how you determine
θ o and write the value below.
θ o= The following table shows the
………………………………………..

17
 characteristics of materials (ii) Calculate the quantity of
which could be used to make heat lost
the food container. from the hot water. The
. specific heat
Characteri Densi Meltin Specifi Thermal capacity of water is 4 200 J
stic ty/ g c conducti
kg m-3 point heat vity kg-1 oC-1
/ capacit
Material o
C y/ 23 The figure shows the arm of a
J kg-1
C
o -1 student who is holding a
P 2 660 910 High sparkler. The boy’s arm is not
710 scalded when the sprinkles of
Q 910 27 1 Low the sparkles touch upon him
600 but his arm is scalded when
R 1 240 1 Low the glowing sparkler touch
050 300 him.
S 2 1 670 Low The temperature of the
600 200 glowing sparkler is same as
T 3 2 800 High the temperature of the
800 020 sparkler sprinkles .

(i) What is meant by melting

point?
(ii) You are asked to
investigate the
characteristics of the
materials in the table
which could be used to
make the food container as
in the figure above. Observe the conditions of the
Explain the suitability of glowing sparkler and sparkler
each characteristics in the sprinkles and also the hand of
table and hence, the boy.
determine which material Based on the observations:
is most suitable to be used
to make the food (a) State one suitable inference
container. that can be made.
Justify your choice. (b) State one appropriate
hypothesis for an
(b) 500 g of hot water at 90 o C is investigation.
poured into (c) With the use of apparatus such
a glass and left to cool down to as metal sphere , beaker ,
room thermometer and other
temperature at 30o C. apparatus , describe an
experimental framework to
(i) Sketch the temperature test your hypothesis.
time-graph In your description , state
for the cooling process of clearly the following:
the hot (i) Aim of the experiment
water. Use your graph to (ii) Variables in the
explain this process. experiment

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(iii) List of apparatus and
materials
(iv) Arrangement of the
apparatus
(v) The procedure of the
experiment
which include the method
of
controlling the
manipulated variable and
the method of measuring
the responding variable.
(vi) Way you would
tabulate the data
(vii)Way you would analysis
the data

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