A student uses the apparatus in Figure 17 to determine the specific heat capacity of water - Edexcel - GCSE Physics - Question 8 - 2018 - Paper 1

To calculate the specific heat capacity of water, the following measurements are required:

1. Mass of the water (m): Measure the mass of the water in the polystyrene cup, typically in grams (g).

2. Change in temperature (∆T): Measure the initial and final temperatures of the water using a thermometer. The change in temperature is calculated as: $\Delta T = T_{final} - T_{initial}$ where temperatures are in degrees Celsius (°C).

3. Energy supplied (Q): Measure the total energy supplied to the water using the joulemeter, typically in joules (J).

4. Time (t): Record the time taken to heat the water, although this might not be essential for calculating specific heat capacity directly, it provides context for evaluating energy consumption.