Lesson 9 of 10 · Energy
Experiment⭐ 30 XP⚡ Spark LabSpecific Heat Capacity
Specific Heat Capacity.
🎯 Your mission
Run the experiment. Find out what really happens.
⚡ The twist
The opposite of what you expect is often what happens.
Mind = Blown
🎢 You feel weightless on a roller coaster because you and the seat are falling at the same speed.
Make a hypothesis first
Predict: what happens if you double the force?
What You'll Learn
Specific heat capacity is the energy needed to raise one kilogram of a substance by one degree Celsius: E = mcΔθ. Water's value is unusually high at about 4,200 J/kg°C, which is why coastal climates are milder and why water makes a good coolant.
Key Words
Tap a word to see its definition.
Materials Needed
- immersion heater
- beaker
- thermometer
- balance
- stopwatch
- insulation
Safety First
- The heater and water get hot — do not touch either during or just after the run.
- Never switch the heater on unless it is fully immersed.
Steps
Read the explanation above and note the two key terms before you start.
Heat a measured mass of water with an immersion heater for a timed period, recording temperature every 30 s. Use E = mcΔθ with your energy input to calculate c, and compare with the accepted value.
Record what actually happened, including anything that did not match what you expected.
Write a conclusion that answers the question this lesson opened with, and state your uncertainty.
Check Your Understanding
Question 1
1 of 2Water's high specific heat capacity means it:
Where you see this in real life
You use this every time you flip a light switch, ride a bike, or kick a ball.
Stretch Challenge
Try this in real life this week.
Time how long a small ball rolls down something, then change the slope and try again.
For the dinner table
“Show me something at home that uses this kind of energy.”
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Specific Heat Capacity
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