6 New Physics at Work (Second Edition) Oxford University Press 2007
Class: Name: ( ) Date:
Measuring the specific heat capacity of water Fig 2b-1 Experiment 2b 2b 1 low voltage immersion heater (50 W 12 V) 1 power pack (012 V a.c./d.c.) 1 joulemeter 1 thermometer 1 polystyrene cup with lid (~250 cm 3 ) 1 stirrer 1 electronic balance 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 water. Objective Procedure 1 (a) Measure 0.2 kg of tap water in a polystyrene cup using an electronic balance. (b) Immerse an immersion heater, a stirrer and a thermometer in water through the holes of a lid. Cover the cup with the lid (Fig 2b-1). Note A polystyrene cup takes very little energy from the heater. It can also reduce the energy loss to the surroundings. water thermometer joulemeter 12 V a.c. power supply stirrer immersion heater Do not touch the heating part of the heater until it has cooled down. 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. 7 New Physics at Work (Second Edition) Oxford University Press 2007 Class: Name: ( ) Date: Experiment 2b Precaution Immerse the heating part of the heater totally in the water. This maximizes the energy transferred to the water and avoids the heater from overheating. Precaution Stir the water before reading the temperature of it. This ensures a uniform temperature throughout the water. (c) Record the initial temperature of water. (d) Record the initial joulemeter reading. 2 (a) Switch on the heater. Stir the water continuously while heating. (b) Switch off the heater when the temperature of water has risen by about 10 C. (c) Stir the water continuously and record the highest temperature reached as the final temperature. (d) Record the final joulemeter reading. 3 Record the results below and calculate the specific heat capacity of water. Results: Mass of water m = __________ kg Initial temperature of water T 1 = __________ C Final temperature of water T 2 = __________ C Temperature change of water 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 of water c = Q mT
= __________ J kg 1 C 1 Discussion What are the possible sources of error in this experiment? How is the result of specific heat capacity affected by each of the above errors? Water is a bad conductor. Highlight the following to Ss: energy is transferred (lost) to heat up the surrounding air, the heater and the thermometer, etc. Ss may have a misconception that surroundings means only the surrounding air. The heater is much hotter than the water when it is just switched off. It takes time for the energy to be transferred from the heater to the water. The possible sources of error should match the measured value of c: e.g. c > 4200 J kg 1 C 1 energy lost to the surroundings c < 4200 J kg 1 C 1 energy gained from the surroundings 0.2 20 37 17 77 540 92 570 15 030 4420 Energy is lost to the surroundings. It is transferred (lost) to heat up the surrounding air, the heater, the thermometer, etc. The temperature of water is not uniform (water is not properly stirred). If energy is lost to the surroundings, more energy is supplied for the water to have the same increase in temperature, so the result will become higher. If the temperature of water is not uniform, the temperature of water will not be equal to the measured temperature, so the result will become either higher or lower. 8 New Physics at Work (Second Edition) Oxford University Press 2007 Class: Name: ( ) Date: Experiment 2b Further thinking How will the result of the specific heat capacity be affected if this experiment is repeated using hot water at initial temperature of 60 C? Explain your answer. The rate of energy loss increases with the temperature of water. Hint 1 The specific heat capacity of water is the energy transferred by heating needed to raise the temperature of water of mass through . 2 The standard value of the specific heat capacity of water is
J kg 1 C 1 . Suggest ways to improve the accuracy of this experiment. Wrap the polystyrene cup with cotton wool. Use a lid made of good insulator, e.g. polystyrene. As the initial temperature of water increases, the temperature of water throughout the experiment becomes higher. Therefore, the rate of energy loss increases. To increase the same amount of temperature, more energy is supplied. The result of specifc heat capacity will become much higher. 1 kg 1 C 4200 This is because the rate of energy loss depends on the temperature difference between the hot water and the surroundings.