FACULTY OF APPLIED SCIENCES

UiTM PAHANG (JENGKA CAMPUS)

PHY210
MECHANISM II AND THERMAL PHYSICS
LAB REPORT

TITLE OF EXPERIMENT: SPECIFIC HEAT OF CAPACITY

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Introduction

The specific heat capacity of a substance is the amount of heat that must be supplied to
increase its temperature by 1˚C for a mass of 1 kg of the substance. Specific heat capacity, c, can be
calculated by knowing the amount of heat supplied, Q to a mass, m, of a substance and the resulting
increase in temperature, Δθ. When two materials with different temperatures are in contact, heat will
flow from the higher temperature to the lower temperature, until these two materials reach an
equilibrium temperature. The rule of the calorimetry principle is also known as Heat loss = Heat
gained.

The quantity of heat absorbed or released by a body is given by :

= Δ (1.1)

In this experiment, a metal of mass, mm that has been heated to a high temperature, θi is dropped
into a mass of water, mw at low temperature, θf. When equilibrium is achieved, the new temperature
of the water-metal-calorimeter combination is measured as θm. To arrive at this equilibrium
temperature, the water and calorimeter must have gained the heat lost by the metals. By neglecting
the heat lost to the surrounding, this situation is expressed by the equation:

m C ( − )=m c ( − ) (1.2)

Where:

= specific heat capacity of metal

= mass of metal

= mass of water

= specific heat capacity of water 4200 J/kg. ˚C

= high temperature

= low temperature

Theoretical value for metal:

calorimeter = cal = 900 J/kg. ˚C

aluminium = al = 900 J/kg. ˚C

 iron = fe = 450 J/kg. ˚C

ater = = specific heat capacity of water 4200 J/kg. ˚C

Objective

1. To define and apply the concept of heat capacity.

2. To determine the specific heat capacity of different metals block by mixtures

 method.

3. To measure the specific heat of a metal.

Apparatus & Materials

1. Aluminium block

2. Ferum block

3. Calorimeter set

4. Thermometer

5. Hot plate

6. 500 ml graduated cylinder

7. 350 ml beaker

8. 500 ml beaker

9. 1 meter thread

Methodology I: Aluminium metal

1. 300 ml of water was poured into a 500 ml beaker by using a graduated cylinder.

2. The water was heated up until the water boiled.

 3. While waiting for the water to be boiled, the mass of the aluminium block was
measured and recorded.

4. Next, the aluminium block was tied with a 50 cm thread.

5. The aluminium block had been hung by using a universal clamp and the block was
heated in the 500 ml beaker of water until the water boiled.

6. The mass of the empty calorimeter container was measured and recorded with a
stirrer.

7. 200 ml of water was poured into the calorimeter.

8. Then, the initial temperature of the calorimeter was recorded and measured after
waited for 2 minutes.

9. The mass of the calorimeter contains water was measured and recorded.

10. Next, the temperature of aluminium block was measured and recorded when the
water started to boiled

11. After that, the aluminium block was quickly pulled out from the boiling water and
immersed into the calorimeter.

12. The final temperature of the system had been measured and recorded before the
temperature started to drop while the water was being stirred.

Thermometer
Boiling water Stirrer
Aluminium block Cardboard cover

Calorimeter
Water
Heat
Lagging material Aluminium block

Methodology II: Ferum metal

1. 300 ml of water was poured into a 500 ml beaker by using a graduated cylinder.
 2. The water was heated up until the water boiled.

3. While waiting for the water to be boiled, the mass of the ferum block was measured
and recorded.

4. Next, the ferum block was tied with a 50 cm thread.

5. The ferum block had been hung by using a universal clamp and the block was heated
in the 500 ml beaker of water until the water boiled.

6. The mass of the empty calorimeter container was measured and recorded with a
stirrer.

7. 200 ml of water was poured into the calorimeter.

8. Then, the initial temperature of the calorimeter was recorded and measured after
waited for 2 minutes.

9. The mass of the calorimeter contains water was measured and recorded.

10. Next, the temperature of ferum block was measured and recorded when the water
started to boiled

11. After that, the ferum block was quickly pulled out from the boiling water and
immersed into the calorimeter.

12. The final temperature of the system had been measured and recorded before the
temperature started to drop while the water was being stirred.

Thermometer
Boiling water Stirrer
Ferum block Cardboard cover

Calorimeter
Water
Heat
Lagging material Ferum block

Presentation of Data
 PARAMETER Metal
Al Fe

Mass of metal block (kg) 0.059 0.06

Mass of empty calorimeter (kg) 0.376 0.376
Mass calorimeter with water (kg) 0.570 0.570
Mass of water (kg) 0.194 0.194

The initial temperature of the calorimeter (℃) 25.2 25.2

The temperature of boiling water (℃) 99.4 99.3

The final temperature of the system (℃) 28.7 27.2

Change in temperature of water (℃) 3.5 2.0

Change in temperature of the block (℃) 70.7 72.1

Analysis of Data
a) Calculate the specific heat capacity of Al and Fe metal block. (refer appendix for theoretical
value, Ccal and Cw).

 Aluminium

Qloss = Qgain
Qal = Qwater + Qcalorimeter
( mcΔT )al = ( mcΔTwater + mcΔTcalorimeter)
(mal) (Cal) (Ti – Tf ) = [(mwater) (Cwater) (Ti – Tf )] + [(mcal) (Ccal) (Ti – Tf )]
(0.059) (Cal) (99.4 − 28.7) = [(0.194) (4200) (28.7 – 25.2)] + [(0.376) (900) (28.7 – 25.2)
4.1713 Cal = (2851.8) + (1184.4)
4.1713 Cal = 4036.2
Cal = 967.61 J/Kg . ℃

 Ferum

Qloss = Qgain
Qfe = Qwater + Qcalorimeter
( mcΔT )fe = ( mcΔTwater + mcΔTcalorimeter)
(mfe) (Cfe) (Ti – Tf ) = [(mwater) (Cwater) (Ti – Tf )] + [(mcal) (Ccal) (Ti – Tf )]
(0.06) (Cfe) (99.3 – 27.2) = [(0.194) (4200) (27.2 – 25.2)] + [(0.376) (900) (27.2 – 25.2)
4.326 Cfe = (1629.6) + (676.8)
4.326 Cfe = 2306.4
Cfe = 533.15 J/Kg . ℃

b) Calculate the percentage difference between your calculated specific heat capacity and its
 theoretical value.

 Aluminium
| |
Percentage difference = x 100
( )

| – . |
= . x 100
( )

| . |
= x 100
.

= | 7.24 % |

= 7.24 %

 Ferum
| |
Percentage difference = x 100
( )

| – . |
= . x 100
( )

| . |
= x 100
.

= | 16.92 % |

= 16.92 %

Discussion I
 In this experiment, I found out the specific capacity of metal blocks which are aluminum and
ferum using the methods of mixtures. This was done by taking a metal block and find out the mass
using the weighing scale. Then, the metal block was placed in a 500 ml beaker of water until the water
boiled. After that, the metal block was transferred into a calorimeter that contains water. The mass of
the calorimeter with and without water was recorded before the metal blocks were placed into the
calorimeter. The water temperature was recorded before and after the transfer of the metal blocks. The
rise in temperature in the calorimeter was also recorded. For the result, it turns out that the specific
heat capacity for the two metal blocks is not the same as the actual specific heat capacity. But, the
aluminium block’s result does not have much difference from the actual specific heat capacity.
Meanwhile, for ferum, there was a huge difference from the actual specific heat capacity. This
happens because of some reason that been affect the result of the experiment while conducting it.

Firstly, the mistake was because of the energy lost during the transfer from the boiling water
in the beaker to the calorimeter. Thus, it causes the specific heat capacity that has been calculated to
have a little bit different from the theoretical value which is 7.24% for the Aluminium block and
16.92% for Ferum block. This can be improved by transferring the metal quickly into the calorimeter
or having a lid on it to reduce the loss heat. Secondly, the heat loss by the metal blocks would be
equal to the heat gained by the water and calorimeter. But, in the experiment, there were losses in heat
during the transfer of metal blocks from the boiling water as it will cooling as soon as it hits the
surrounding air. This should be minimized by transferring the metal blocks quickly into the
calorimeter. Lastly, inaccuracies could also happen in this experiment when there are errors in reading
measurements like measuring the water using a graduated cylinder. This can be avoided by using a
more accurate instrument like a pipet.

Discussion II (Question)
c) Why should you stir the water at the end of the experiment before the temperature reading is
taken?

The water should be stir at the end of an experiment before the temperature reading is taken
because to make sure that the heat is evenly transferred throughout the mixture. The
temperature at the surface will be different from the bottom. The purpose of the stirring is to
confirm the heat has equally spread in the liquid so that it has an even temperature. In addition,
stirring can speeds up the process of convection by bringing the hottest liquid at the bottom to
the top. So that it can be cooled by air.

d) Why is water used in the experiment as a cooling system?

Water is the most common cooling medium used in cooling processes, due to its high
boiling point and high heat capacity among available liquids at room temperature.
Atmospheric pressure allowing efficient heat transfer over distance with low rates of mass
transfer. In addition, water’s temperature increases only by a little bit as compared to the
amount the temperature of the other substance decreases.

Conclusion
 In conclusion, the objectives of this experiment were achieved. The specific heat capacity of
the Aluminium block and Ferum block can be measure and determine by the method of mixtures.
Specific heat capacity is defined as the amount of heat required to raise the temperature of 1 kilogram
of a substance by 1 kelvin. The specific heat capacity of Aluminium and Ferum was measured using
the formula Q=mcΔθ. For the result, the specific heat capacity for Aluminium is 967.61 J/Kg. ℃ and
for ferum is 533.15 J/Kg . ℃. I also get to calculate the percent difference between the experiment’s
calculated specific heat capacity of those metal blocks and its theoretical values which value is 7.24
% for Aluminium and 16.92 % for Ferum. As expected, the specific heat capacity of aluminum will
be higher than ferum. This is because when the volume is less dense the metal, the higher the specific
heat capacity because the metals contain big atoms slowly heat up and more energy is needed to make
the molecules get hot and move around.

References
1) Intan Syaffina Zaine, Nur Maizatul Azra Mukhtar, Siti Azlina Rosli, Suhaiza Hasan, Zubainun
Mohamed Zabidi. (2014). Fundamental Of Physics 1. Oxford Fajar Sdn. Bhd,Shah Alam,
Selangor. 325-345pp.

2) P.D. Davis, G.D. Parbrook, G.N.C. Kenny, (1995). Basic Physics and Measurement in
Anaesthesia (Fourth Edition), Butterworth-Heinemann, 125-133pp.

3) Maxwell, James Clerk (1970). Theory of Heat. Westport, Conn., Greenwood Press. Retrieved
01 July 2008 from https://archive.org/details/theoryheat04maxwgoog/page/n77. 57-67pp.

4) Robert Lutz, Bill Williamson. (2020). Reference Module in Earth Systems and Environmental
Sciences. Elsevier. Retrieved 26 August 2020 from
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/B9780128197257000131

5) UKEssays. (November 2018). Comparison of Specific Heat Capacity of Different Metals.

Retrieved from https://www.ukessays.com/essays/physics/comparison-specific-heat-capacity-
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