Photo AI
6 (a) Explain the difference between the term ‘specific heat capacity’ and the term ‘specific latent heat’ when applied to heating substances - Edexcel - GCSE Physics Combined Science - Question 6 - 2022 - Paper 1
Question 6
6 (a) Explain the difference between the term ‘specific heat capacity’ and the term ‘specific latent heat’ when applied to heating substances. (b) Figure 10 shows s... show full transcript
Worked Solution & Example Answer:6 (a) Explain the difference between the term ‘specific heat capacity’ and the term ‘specific latent heat’ when applied to heating substances - Edexcel - GCSE Physics Combined Science - Question 6 - 2022 - Paper 1
Step 1
Explain the difference between the term ‘specific heat capacity’ and the term ‘specific latent heat’
Answer
Specific heat capacity refers to the amount of heat energy required to raise the temperature of a unit mass of a substance by one degree Celsius (or one Kelvin). It concerns changes in temperature. In contrast, specific latent heat is the amount of heat required to change the state of a substance without a change in temperature, such as during melting or boiling. This term is related to phase changes, where the temperature remains constant while heat is added or removed.
Step 2
Explain how the student should then obtain an accurate reading for the final temperature of the water
Answer
- Stir the water before taking a reading: This ensures that the temperature is uniform throughout.
- Continue to observe temperatures after switching off: Allow the water to cool or stabilize, which may take longer than 10 minutes.
- Record the maximum temperature reached: This will help in identifying the highest point achieved.
- Take temperature reading at eye level: This helps avoid parallax errors and ensures accuracy.
- Consider conduction time: Acknowledge that it takes time for the water and thermometer to reach an equilibrium temperature.