What is a required practical for measuring specific heat capacity?

A required practical for measuring specific heat capacity involves heating a substance and measuring the temperature change and energy input.

In this practical, you will need a solid material, such as a metal block, an electric heater, a thermometer, a power supply, a stopwatch, and a balance to measure the mass of the block. First, measure the mass of the metal block using the balance. Then, insert the electric heater into the block and connect it to the power supply. Place the thermometer in a small hole in the block to measure its temperature accurately.

Before turning on the heater, record the initial temperature of the block. Switch on the power supply and start the stopwatch simultaneously. The heater will transfer energy to the block, causing its temperature to rise. Keep the heater on for a set period, such as 10 minutes, and record the temperature at regular intervals.

To calculate the specific heat capacity (c) of the material, you need to know the energy supplied (E), the mass of the block (m), and the temperature change (ΔT). The energy supplied by the heater can be calculated using the formula E = P × t, where P is the power of the heater (in watts) and t is the time (in seconds) the heater was on.

Once you have all the necessary data, use the formula c = E / (m × ΔT) to find the specific heat capacity. This practical helps you understand how different materials require different amounts of energy to change their temperature, which is a fundamental concept in thermal physics.