1.1.9 Required Practical: Investigating Specific Heat Capacity

Specific Heat Capacity

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Different materials need different amounts of energy to increase their temperature. The property that determines this is called the specific heat capacity.

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The specific heat capacity is represented by a lower-case c_c_ and is measured in J/kg°C.

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Materials with a high specific heat capacity need a lot of thermal energy to increase their temperature. Materials with a low specific heat capacity need less thermal energy to increase their temperature.

Specific Heat Capacity

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The energy required to raise the temperature of 1 kg of a substance by 1°C or 1K.

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Formula

energy=mass×specific heat capacity×temperature change

E = mc\Delta T

Variables

$\Delta E$ : Change in thermal energy, in joules (J)
$m$ : Mass, in kilograms (kg)
$c$ : Specific heat capacity, in joules per kilogram per degree Celsius ( $Jkg^{-1}°C^{-1}$ )
$\Delta T$ : Temperature change, in degrees Celsius (°C)

Explanation

Specific Heat Capacity $(c)$ : A property of the substance being heated.
Formula Usage: $E = mc\Delta T$ calculates the energy required to cause a specific temperature change in a given mass of a substance.

Specific Heat Capacity Practical

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Determining the Specific Heat Capacity of Vegetable Oil

c = \frac{\Delta E}{m \times \Delta \theta}

Sources of Inaccuracy

Inaccuracy	Correction
Thermal energy passes out of the beaker into the air.	Use an insulator with a lower thermal conductivity.
Not all thermal energy passes into the oil.	Ensure that the immersion heater is fully submerged.
Incorrect reading of thermometer.	Use an electronic temperature probe.
Thermal energy is not being spread through the oil.	Stir the oil.

Required Practical: Investigating Specific Heat Capacity Simplified Revision Notes for GCSE AQA Physics

1.1.9 Required Practical: Investigating Specific Heat Capacity

Specific Heat Capacity

Specific Heat Capacity

Explanation

Specific Heat Capacity Practical

Sources of Inaccuracy

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