Question

Prepare a written discussion on the Experiment: Calorimetry & Specific Heat

   -purpose of the experiment

   -summary of the procedure

-discussion of the theory behind the experiment

   -discussion of the results, including the identity of the metal, the accuracy and precision of the results

Answer 1

Experiment: Calorimetry & Specific Heat

Purpose:

The purpose of this experiment was to determine the heat capacity of an adiabatic calorimeter. An adiabatic calorimeter is an apparatus used to measure heat changes for experiments done at constant pressure. Heat capacity is the amount of heat required to raise the heat of a system one degree Centigrade.

Procedure:

A sample of metal (or anything else) is heated to 100°C (or other known temperature) in a bath of boiling water. The temperature of the water in the calorimeter is measured before and after adding the sample. The specific heat capacity of the metal can be determined from the maximum temperature achieved by the water in the calorimeter.

Theory:

Heat is a form of energy that is transferred between objects with different temperatures. Heat always flows from high temperature to low temperature. The amount of heat absorbed or released (q) by the object depends on its mass (m), specific heat (C_s), and the change in temperature (ΔT).

Specific heat can be defined as the amount of heat required (q) to raise the temperature of one gram of the substance by one degree Celsius.

Result and discussion:

We can compare the heat gained and the heat lost by the system. Since it is in the calorimeter, we can assume that the system is isolated. Which means that the heat gained is equal to the heat lost ( Q _gained  = Q _lost ). Using the specific heat of water, C = (1 cal/g-C^o) we can compute the heat gained and the heat lost by using the equations: Q _{gained by the cold water}  = m _{cold water} C (T _final – T _{cold water} ) and Q _{lost by the hot water} = m _{hot water} C (T _{hot water}  – T _final ). All the necessary data are gained by measuring from the actual experiment.