SPECIFIC HEAT CAPACITY (VIRTUAL LAB)
This worksheet has been designed for you to use while completing the Specific Heat Capacity
Multimedia Element Lab. In addition to this worksheet, you will require a calculator and a pen or
pencil.
To find the Lab, go to http://resources.elearningontario.ca/
User ID: ocdsbstudent
Password: I can’t publish it online… you’ll have to ask a fellow student or email me for it
On the next two screens, select “I agree” and then “search”. In the “simple search” space, type:
ELO1290330. Click on the title of the lab to begin. Then, follow the instructions on the screen,
without audio.
EXPERIMENT 1: Finding the Specific Heat Capacity of copper:
Step 1: Recording Data
(NOTE: The water temperatures to be recorded are the temperatures of the calorimeter water,
not the beaker water. The “initial temperature” is the temperature of each substance just before
combining them in the calorimeter; the “final temperature” refers to the temperature of the
copper-water mixture)
WATER (in the calorimeter)
COPPER
Mass of water (in kg): m = _______
Mass of the copper (in kg): m =_________
Initial temperature of water: T1 = _____
Initial temperature of copper: T1 = _____
Final temperature of the water: T2 = _____
Final temperature of copper: T2 = _____
Change in water temperature:
Change in temperature of the copper:
∆T = T2 - T1 = _________
∆T = T2 - T1 = __________
Step 2: Calculating the amount of heat gained by the water:
Q = mc∆T
cwater = 4 200 J/kg·˚C
Using the values and the equation above, calculate the amount of heat gained by the water.
Step 3: Determining the amount of heat lost by the copper:
The heat lost by the copper will have the same magnitude as the heat gained by the water. A
negative sign is used to indicate a loss of energy.
Heat energy lost by the copper: Q =___________________
Step 4: Determining the Specific Heat Capacity of copper
Use the values you have recorded in Steps 1 and 3 and the equation below.
c=
Q
m∆T
The specific heat capacity of copper is: _________________________.
Step 5: Experiment 2: The Effect of Mass
How do you think doubling the mass of the copper sample affects the amount that the water’s
temperature changes? Write your hypothesis below
WATER (in the calorimeter)
COPPER
Mass of water (in kg): m = _______
Mass of the copper (in kg): m =______
Initial temperature of water: T1 = _____
Initial temperature of copper: T1 = _____
Final temperature of water: T2 = _____
Final temperature of copper: T2 = _____
Change in water temperature:
Change in temperature of the copper:
∆T = T2 - T1 =________
∆T = T2 - T1 = _________
What effect did doubling the mass of the copper sample have on the water’s temperature
change? Write a brief statement summarizing your findings.
Step 6: Experiment 3: The Effect of Changing the Temperature of the Copper
What effect do you think increasing the temperature of the copper by only half as much would
have on the water’s temperature change? Write your hypothesis below.
WATER (in the calorimeter)
COPPER
Mass of water (in kg): m = _______
Mass of the copper (in kg): m =______
Initial temperature of water: T1 = _____
Starting temperature of copper: T1 = _____
Final temperature of water: T2 = _____
Final temperature of copper: T2 = _____
Change in water temperature:
Change in temperature of the copper:
∆T = T2 - T1 =________
∆T = T2 - T1 = _________
What effect did increasing the temperature of the copper by only half as much have on the
water’s temperature change? Write a brief statement summarizing your findings.