Determined the mass of the metal

Placed 150cm3 of water in a polystyrene cup and recorded the initial temperature of the water

Placed the metal in a water bath and heated it for approximately 10 minutes.

Measured the temperature of the water bath

Quickly transferred the metal into the polystyrene cup of water.

Recorded the highest reading on the thermometer.

Calculated the specific heat capacity of the metal.

Mass of metal block: 0.20kg

Initial temperature of the metal block: 100 °C

Final temperature of the metal block: 39 °C

Drop in temperature of the metal block:

=100 °C-39 °C

=61 °C

Mass of water: 0.15 kg

Initial temperature of the water: 32 °C

Final temperature of the water: 39 °C

Rise in temperature of the water:

=39 °C-32 °C

=7 °C

EH = mcΔθ

Heat energy = mass (m) x specific heat capacity(c) x change in temperature (Δθ)
Heat energy lost by the block = heat energy gained by the water
m (metal) x c (metal) x Δθ (metal) = m (water) x c (water) x Δθ (water)

0.2 kg x c x 61°C = 0.15 kg x 4200 Jkg^-1°C^-1 x 7°C

= 12.2 x c = 4410 J

Specific heat capacity = Q/m∆t

c = 4410 J / 0.2 kg x 61°C

c = 361.48 Jkg^-1°C^-1

The specific heat capacity of the metal = 361.48 Jkg^-1°C^-1

The specific heat capacity (c) of a substance is the amount of heat energy needed to raise the
temperature per unit mass by one degree. The specific heat capacity of a metal was to be determined
for this experiment. Firstly, the mass of the metal (0.1997kg) was measured on the electronic scale. 150
cm3 of water was placed in the polystyrene cup which was insulated to coserve and prevent the loss of
heat to the environment. The initial temperature was recorded as 32 degrees. The metal was placed in a
water bath and was heated for approximately to minutes. By then, the temperature was 100 degrees
and the metal was quickly transferred to the polystyrene cup of water. The final temperature wa
recorded. The heat energy lost by the metal = heat energy gained by the water in the cup. To find the
temperature change of water: the temperature of water after the metal was added - temperature of
water before the metal was added. The temperature change of the metal was the temperate after it was
boiled - the temperature after it was added to the polystyrene cup.The heat that was lost by the meta l
was gained by These values were necessary in finding the Specific heat capacity (SHC). To find this, the
formula was: mc x change in the temperature of water/ m x change in temperatur of the metal. The
specific heat capcity is unknown on the left side of the equation heat energy lost by the metal= heat
energy gained by the water in the cup was unkwon. On the right side of this equation the Specific heat
capacity was 4200Jkg-1 degrees. Therefore the equation was transposed for c and the SHC of the metal
was found.

The specific heat capacity (c) is the heat energy required to raise one kilogram (1kg) of a substance
by on degree (1°). Specific heat capacity however shouldn’t get confused with heat capacity (C) which is
the thermal energy required to raise the temperature of a body by one kelving ( 1 K). The unit for
specific heat capacity is Jkg^-1°C^-1 and for heat capacity it is J. The aim of this experiment was to
determine the specific heat capacity of a metal and it was determined to be 361.48 Jkg^-1°C^-1.

Firstly, we determined the weight of the metal, then we placed 150cm3 of water in a polystyrene
cup and recorded the initial temperature of the water, Placed 150cm3 of water in a polystyrene cup and
recorded the initial temperature of the water, placed 150cm3 of water in a polystyrene cup and
recorded the initial temperature of the water, recorded the highest reading on the thermometer and
calculated the specific heat capacity of the metal. The initial temperature of the metal was 100 °C final
whiki temperature was 39°C. . There was a 61°C temperature change and the water went form 32°C
to 39°C so there was a 7°C temperature change in the water. The heat energy lost by the metal
block is equal to the energy gained by water.