Physics – Laboratory: Specific Heat not too sure if the lab is super needed or not. please word that a junior in high school could understand What is the

Physics – Laboratory: Specific Heat not too sure if the lab is super needed or not. please word that a junior in high school could understand

What is the specific heat of the masses in this experiment? Infer the substance the masses are made of and explain your inference using your data as support. Show your work.

List three sources of error that would account for the differences between your values and the accepted value. Some of your focus should be on considering that heat transfer should only have taken place between the water and the unknown substance in the calorimeter.

Explain in your own words how a calorimeter works. SCI403B/404B: Physics | Unit 4 | Lessons 3 and 4: Laboratory: Specific Heat
Laboratory Instructions
Laboratory: Specific Heat
Materials
Supplied
Student Guide
Laboratory Guidelines
graduated cylinder – 250 mL
foam cups with lids – 2
thick rubber band
scale, digital
thermometer, advanced
stirring rod
slotted weight set, steel
Also Needed
plastic bag – small
household objects – freezer compartment
distilled water – 100 mL
Advance Prep (3 days)
Review the list of materials for the lab prior to the lesson, because there are several items that you must supply.
Safety
Review the Laboratory Guidelines before conducting the lab.
Experiment
Setup
Collect your materials and assemble the calorimeter according to the following steps:
1. Place a rubber band around one cup. This will allow that cup to fit snugly inside a second cup without
touching the bottom of the outer cup. It will also isolate the inner cup from the surrounding air.
2. Place the inner cup inside the outer cup. Label this assembly Cup 1.
3. Punch two small holes in the cup lid so that you can put a thermometer and the stirring rod snugly through
them.
4. Make a data table like Table 1.
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SCI403B/404B: Physics | Unit 4 | Lessons 3 and 4: Laboratory: Specific Heat
Table 1: Data and Observations of the Specific Heat of Unknown Substance
Observations
Trial 1
Trial 2
Trial 3
Mass of Cup 1, empty (g)
Mass of water, calculated (g)
Beginning temperature of water
in Cup1 (°C)
Combined mass of metal masses (g)
Beginning temperature of masses =
measured temperature of freezer (°C)
Final temperature of water in Cup 1,
measured (°C)
Change of water temperature,
calculated (°C)
Change of temperature of masses,
calculated, positive value (°C)
Procedure
1. Measure and record the mass of Cup 1 empty without the lid.
2. Put 70 mL of distilled water into Cup 1.
3. Measure the mass of Cup 1 plus the water, without the lid. Subtract the mass of Cup 1 empty from this
number to obtain the mass of the water. Record that information in the table.
4. Obtain two 50 g slotted masses and record their combined mass in the table. Place the masses in the plastic
bag.
5. Insert the thermometer and the stirring rod into the lid and place the lid over Cup 1.
6. Record the initial temperature of the water. Remove the thermometer.
7. Place the thermometer in the refrigerator’s freezer compartment. After 5 minutes, remove the thermometer
and record the temperature. This will be the initial temperature of the masses.
8. Place the bag containing the masses in the freezer and let it sit for 30 minutes so that it is the same
temperature as the freezer.
9. When the masses have the same temperature as the freezer, remove the bag, then remove the masses from
the bag and place them in Cup 1. Put the lid back on and place the thermometer through the hole in Cup 1.
10. Gently swirl the calorimeter to mix the water inside Cup 1.
11. After the temperature has not changed for at least a minute, record the final temperature of the water inside
Cup 1.
12. Empty the water from Cup 1 and repeat Steps 1–11 two more times. You may use the same masses, but
replace the water inside Cup 1 for each trial. Dry the masses thoroughly after each use.
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SCI403B/404B: Physics | Unit 4 | Lessons 3 and 4: Laboratory: Specific Heat
13. Calculate the specific heat of masses (Cm) by using the following equation:
mmCm?Tm + mwCw?Tw = 0
where
•
mm is the mass of the masses (g)
•
mw is the mass of the water (g)
•
Cm is the specific heat capacity of the masses
J
g !°C
•
•
Cw is the specific heat capacity of water, 4.18
?Tm is the temperature change of the masses (°C)
•
?Tw is the temperature change of the water (°C)
Remember to solve the equation algebraically for Cm before substituting in the values of the other variables.
14. Repeat Step 13 for each trial and average the values.
Analyze
Answer the questions in the Lab Report thoroughly.
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