Name:____________
Date:________
Investigating Specific Heat Capacity
Question
How different are the specific heat capacities of various metals?
Can specific heat capacity be used to determine the identity of an unknown?
Table: Specific Heat Capacity of Metals
Sample Mass Initial Initial Mass
Final Change Change Specific Identity
(g)
Temp. Temp.
of
Temp.
in
in
Heat
of
of
Water
of
Temp. Temp. Capacity
Sample Water
(g)
Sample
of
of
(J/kgK)
and
Sample Water
Water
(∆Ts)
(∆Tw)
1
2
3
4
5
6
Summing Up:
1. Which sample had the highest specific heat capacity? What is its identity?
2. For known samples, how well did the experimental value of the specific heat capacity
agree with the actual value?
3. Would using a larger mass of metal give more accurate results? Explain why or why
not?
4. What would you do to improve the procedure of this activity?