Specific Heat Labhttp://honolulu.hawaii.edu/distance/sci122/Programs/p21/image.gifAim:Specific heat is the amount of heat per mass required to raise the temperature of 1úC. Different materials have different specific heats. The aim of our lab was to determine the specific heat of copper and to compare with the actual result by finding the experimental error.
Materials and equipment:Electrical balanceWaterCalorimeterCylinder of copperThermometerBeakerHotplateCrucible tongsGraduated cylinderGogglesObservations:We started off the lab by filling our calorimeter with 100 cmó of water from the tap. We recorded the initial temperature into our chart and continued to work. We took the cylindrical copper and put it into the beaker filled with water. Our goal was to rise the temperature of the water to 100úC. After hitting the goal we pulled out the metal and carefully dropped it into the calorimeter. We watched the temperature going from 26/24 up to 28/27. After collecting all the needed information we plugged in our results into the specific heat formula:Then we made the specific heat of copper àX and solved the equation.
Calculations:Heat gained by the waterHeat lost by the metalMass of water à100 Mass of metal (m) à57.04Initial temperature of water - 26úCInitial temperature of metal - 96úCFinal temperature of mixture - 28úCFinal temperature of mixture - 28úCT - 2 T à58úC1st time100*4.184(28-26) = (96-28)*X*57.04418.4*2 = 58*57.04X836.8 = 3878.72X836.8/3878.72 = X0.216 = XSpecific heat à0.216 JActual specific heat à0.385 JExp. Error:(0.385-0.216)/0.385*10044% errorHeat gained by the waterHeat lost by the metalMass of water à100 Mass of metal (m) à57.04Initial temperature of water - 24úCInitial temperature of metal - 97úCFinal temperature of mixture - 27úCFinal temperature of mixture - 27úCT - 3 T à702nd time:100*4.184(27-24) = (97-27)*X*57.04418.4*3 = 70*X*57.041255.2 = 3992.8X1255.2/3992.8 = X0.314 = XSpecific heat à0.314 JActual specific heat à0.385 J(0.385-0.314)/0.385*10017% errorConclusion:Specific heat is the amount...