Question

1a. What would be the effect on your calculations of specific heat of the metal if there was heat lost while transferring the metal? Explain why. 1b. What would be the effect on your calculation of specific heat of the metal if the metal you heated was wet, and contained 2% water by weight when you poured it into the calorimeter? Explain why. 1c. What would be the effect on your calculations on specific heat of the metal if you didn't wait until the final mixture reached equilibrium temperature? Explain why. 1d. What would be the effect on your calculations of specific heat of the metal if you read the temperature too high? Explain why.

Answer 1

Specific heat capacity is heat required to raise temperature of a unit of mass by 1 degree celsius.

(1a)

If there is heat loss during the tranferring of heat, more energy is required to raise the temperature.

Hence, our calculated specific heat will be more than the theoritical specific heat of the metal.

(1b)

Extra heat will be required to raise the temperature of water as well, hence our calculated specific heat will be more.

(1c)

If we didn't wait until the final mixture had reached the equilibrium, total heat transferred will be less than what it had been if the mixture would have reached equilibrium. hence the calculated specific heat will be less than the theoritical value.

(1d)

If temperature recorded is more, this means recorded total change in temperature is more, this means less heat is required to change the temperature by a unit. Hence, calculated specific heat is lesser than the theritical value.