COMMITTED TO EXCELLENCE

SPECIFIC HEAT
OF
SOLIDS SK051
Instruction Manual

Manufacturer :

TUV
P.O. Box No. 42, OSAW Complex, Jagadhri Road Phone : +91-171-2699347, 2699267 SUD

Ambala Cantt - 133001 (Haryana) INDIA Fax : +91-171-2699102, 2699222 South Asia
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QMO11
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E-mail : qc1@indosaw.com New Delhi, Phone : 011-46525029
 COMMITTED TO EXCELLENCE

Experiment: Determining the specific heat of copper, lead and glass.

Requirement: SK051
Theory: Heat is a form of energy. It is expressed either in joules (J), calories (cal), or kilo-
calories (kcal). The change in thermal energy of an object is proportional to the change in its
DQ
temperature. The heat capacity C of an object is defined as C = DT , w h e r e D Q i s t h e
amount of heat required to change the temperature of the object by DT. The specific heat c of
a substance
is the heat capacity per unit mass.

(1)

Which gives DQ = mcDT (2)

The specific heat is measured in J/kgoC or cal/goC or kcal/kgoC. Suppose we have two
objects, one hot and one cold. Let m1 and m2 be the masses of the hot and cold objects, T1
and T2 be the temperatures of the hot and cold objects, and c1 and c2 be their specific heats
respectively. These two objects are brought into thermal contact with each other and
allowed to reach a common final equilibrium temperature Tf. We are assuming the system to
be thermally insulated from the surroundings. According to conservation of energy, the heat
gained by the cold object would equal the heat lost by the hot object.
DQgained = DQlost (3)

or
m2c2 (Tf- T2) = m1c1 (T1 -Tf) (4)
For this experiment, consider the system to consist of mixing a given mass m1 of a hot metal
specimen with specific heat c1 at temperature T1 and a known mass m2 of water with specific
heat c2 at a lower temperature T2 contained in a calorimeter of mass m3with specific heat c3
also initially at temperature T2. Once again we assume the system to be thermally insulated
from the surroundings, and the heat capacity of the thermometer, which records the
temperature, can be neglected. Let the final temperature of the mixturebe Tf . Energy
conservation gives:
DQlost(Metal) = DQgained(Water) + DQgained(Calorimeter) (5)

m1c1 (T1 - Tf) = m2c2 (Tf - T2) + m3c3 (Tf - T2)

which, yields the unknown specific heat c1 of the metal specimen as

(1)
 COMMITTED TO EXCELLENCE

If W = Water equivalent of calorimeter then

mpb c1 (ts - tf ) = ( Mw + W ) ( tf - t2) ----------------- (6)

Water équivalent is the mass of water which absorb the be same amount of heat as absorbed
by flask to its raise temp. by 1º C.

We assume that the mixing can be done without loss of heat by the hot specimen to the
surroundings.
We will consider a metal specimen heated to a high temperature is dropped into water
contained in a calorimeter (Dewar flask) at a lower temperature. If this system is thermally
insulated from the surroundings, the specific heat of the specimen can be determined by
equating the heat lost by the metal to the heat gained by both the calorimeter cup and the
water contained in it.

Setup and carrying out the experiment

1. The experiment setup is shown in the adjacent figure

2. Open the top of steam generator by turning it anticlockwise and add sufficient
water so that heater element is well dipped into water.
3. Connect the heating chamber to the steam generator using silicon tube as shown in
figure.
4. Attach silicone tubing to the bottom hose connection of the heating
chamber(steam outlet), and hang the other end in the beaker. See to it that the
silicone tubing is securely seated at all connections.
5. Fill the sample chamber of the heating chamber with a weighed quantity of laed
shots and seal it with the stopper.
6. Switch ON the steam generator to generate steam and heat the shots for about 20-
30 minutes in the heating chamber.
(2)
 COMMITTED TO EXCELLENCE

Step – 1 Determination of water equivalent of dewar flask.

1. Mass of flask ( M1 ) = 292.8g

2. M2 ( mass of cold water ( Mc ) + mass of flask ( M1 )) = 396.8g
3. Mass of cold water ( Mc ) = M2 - M1 = 104g
4. Temp. of cold water ( Tc ) = 30°C
5. Temp. of hot water ( Th ) = 77°C
6. M3 ( cold water + flask + hot water ) = 545.6g
7. Mass of hot water = Mh = M3 - M2 = 148.8g
8. Temp. Of mixture Tm = 53.2 °C (ie. mixture of temperature of cold water &
hot water)
Heat lost = Heat gained
Mh (Th - Tm ) = Mc ( Tm - Tc ) + w ( Tm - Tc )
148.8 (77-53.2) = 104 (53.2-30) + W (53.2-30)
We get W = 48.7g

Step – 2. To determine the specific heat:

1. Empty the dewar flask and place in water so that it regain its normal temperature.
2. Open the cover of the dewar vessel and shift below the heat chamber and drop the shots at
100 C into the dewar flask.
3. Stir the mixture gently by rotating the flask clockwise and anti-clock wise with hand
4. Read the temperature of the mixture when the temperature of the water stop rising and use
eqn- 6 to find specific heat.
5. Repeat the experiment with copper and glass shots.
Sample result for lead:-
initial temperature of water ( T2 ) = 28.3°C
final(mixing) temperature of water ( Tf ) = 29.2°C
mass of lead shots, mpb= 83g
Mw= 144.2g (Mass of water in flask in which lead shots added)
water equivalent of water (w) = 48.7g
ts = temp. of steam = 100 C

(3)
 COMMITTED TO EXCELLENCE

use formula:

mpb c1 (ts - tf ) = ( Mw + W ) ( tf - t2) ------------ (6)

83 (144.2+48.7)4.19(29.2-28.3)
(100-29.2)CPb = 1000
1000
kJ
= 0.123 ( 1 cal = 4.19 Joules)
KgK

Literature value = 0.129 kJK -1Kg -1

Similarly, the specific heat for copper and glass can be calculated.
Thus we find that specific heat of lead is less then that of water.

Note:
To heat the water up to about 60°C for finding the water, equivalent of DEWAR FLASK
use your own heater, (i.e make your own arrangement).

(4)