1. Energy (required practical 1 - specific heat capacity)

Question 1

What are the steps for the practical?

Answer 1

1. Place a beaker on a balance and press zero
2. Add oil to the beaker and record the mass of the oil
3. Place a thermometer and an immersion heater into the oil
4. Read the starting temperature of the oil
5. Wrap the beaker in insulating foam to reduce thermal energy transfer to the surroundings
6. Connect a joulemeter to the immersion heater
7. Time for thirty minutes
8. Read the number of joules of energy that passed into the immersion heater
9. Read the final temperature of the oil
10. Calculate the specific heat capacity of the oil using the equation

Question 2

What are the sources of inaccuracy in the experiment?

Answer 2

• thermal energy passing out of the beaker into the air
• not all thermal energy passing into the oil
• incorrect reading of the thermometer
• thermal energy not being spread through the oil

Question 3

How can you reduce the effects of the thermal energy passing out of the beaker into the air?

Answer 3

Use an insulator with a lower thermal conductivity

Question 4

How can you reduce the effects of not all the thermal energy passing into the oil?

Answer 4

ensure that the immersion heater is fully submerged

Question 5

How can you reduce the effects of an incorrect reading of the thermometer?

Answer 5

use an electric temperature probe

Question 6

How can you reduce the effects of thermal energy not being spread through the oil?

Answer 6

stir the oil