English National Curriculum Science
Mission Objectives
Describe the method used to determine the specific heat capacity of a substance
Calculate the specific heat capacity of a substance from experimental data
Evaluate sources of error in the practical procedure
Research and explain an alternative method for calculating specific heat capacity to reduce errors
Save files related to this lesson
Words and meanings to learn
immersion
the action of dipping or completely covering a substance in a liquid
joulemeter
a device used to measure the energy transferred by electricity in a circuit
thermometer
an instrument for measuring the temperature
transfer
to move from one place to another
balance
a device to measure mass
Resources: Class presentation and handout. Optional: equipment to demonstrate an experimental method for calculations of specific heat capacity. Copper block wrapped with insulation with 2 holes for a thermometer and heater, thermometer, pipette to put water in the thermometer hole, 30 W, 12 V heater and power supply, insulation to wrap around the blocks, ammeter and voltmeter, five 4 mm leads and a stop watch or stop clock.
Handout: Students record method for using an ammeter and a voltmeter to calculate the power and then the energy supplied. A table to record results and process to work out energy transferred. Students then use this to plot a graph and calculate gradient to work out the specific heat capacity.
Expert film
Mission assignment film
View some great examples of student work from this unit
No exemplar works have been uploaded for this lesson yet.
Operations Support Worker
Nuclear Decomissioning Operative
Nuclear Decomissioning Team Leader
Nuclear Decomissioning Site Engineer
Manager of Production or Maintenance
Technical or Production Director
