Name:
PHYS 1030 R
Exp. Unit 9 Specific Heat Report
Quantity
Trial 1
Trial 2
Trial 3 (if
needed)
Mass of shot (g)
100.1
100.0
Mass of cup (g)
Not needed
Not needed
Mass of water (g)
116.0
116.0
Cold temp of water
23.8
24.7
Hot temp. of shot
90.6
91.1
Equilibrium temp.
37.3
37.9
Specific Ht of water
1.00 cal/g/C0
1.00 cal/g/C0
1.00 cal/g/C0
0.22 cal/g/C0
0.22 cal/g/C0
0.22 cal/g/C0
Not needed
Sp. Heat of shot (exp.)*
Sp. Heat of aluminum
Percent difference
*Indicates the value you calculated in your experiment.
Questions:
1. Would the computed specific heat be larger or smaller than the expected value if hot
water from the heating vessel drops into the foam cup as you pour the shot into it? Why?
2. If you wait too long to measure the equilibrium temperature, will the computed
specific heat be larger or smaller than the accepted value? Why?
3. What was the largest source of experimental error in your experiment? (This does not
mean mistakes!)
We know that heat given by shot = heat taken by water
Or mw C w t w  mshotC shot t shot
 m  t 
 C shost   w  w C w
 mshot  t shot 
 116  37.3  23.8 
For trial 1,  C shost  

 *1  0.2935cal / g  deg C
 100.1  90.6  37.3 
 116  37.9  24.7 
For trial 2,  C shost  

 *1  0.2878cal / g  deg C
 100  91.1  37.9 