Class Group: S39

Lab Group no: 2

CENTRE OF FOUNDATION STUDIES

FOUNDATION PHYSICS I
LABORATORY REPORT

Experiment Specific Heat Capacity

Name Aidil Afiq bin Abdul Rafar
Student ID 2023835398
Lab Instructor’s Name Madam Nurkhaizan binti Zulkepli
Date of Experiment 21st August 2023
Member 1 Hanis Syaffira binti Shafien
2023825162
Member 2 Puteri Nur Ameera binti Megat Ahmad Shah
2023824598
Member 3 Noor Suhailah Diyana binti Mohamad
2023824824
Member 4 Ahmad Daniel Aizat bin Mohd Nazir
2023834938
Marks

Comment
ABSTRACT
The purpose of this experiment was to investigate theheat capacity of two different types of
metal blocks by using a calorimeter set. Aside from that, this experiment is carried out to
determine the percentage difference between theoretical and experimental values for each
specific heat capacity obtained. We have randomly picked out two different types of metal
blocks and were boiled with water in a beaker before the they were put into calorimeter set
and highest temperature recorded.

INTRODUCTION
The specific heat capacity of a substance refers to the energy required to raise the temperature
of 1 kg of the substance by 1°C. Different substances exhibit varying specific heat capacities.
Therefore, the specific heat capacity, denoted as c, depends on factors such as supplied heat
Q, the mass of the substance, m and the change in temperature, AT.

When a high-temperature object meets a lower-temperature object, heat transfers from the
high-temperature object to the low-temperature object until both objects reach an equilibrium
temperature.

A calorimeter is a device utilized to measure the quantity of heat released or absorbed during
chemical or physical reactions. It enables the determination of heat content, latent heat,
specific heat, and other thermal properties of a substance. When a warm object is positioned
within colder water inside the calorimeter, heat transfers from the warmer object to the water.
Consequently, the temperature of the warm object decreases while the temperature of the
water increases. Assuming no heat loss to the surroundings, the amount of heat released by
the warm object is equal to the amount of heat absorbed by the water. This principle can be
expressed as follows;

-Q hot = Q cold

OBJECTIVES
1. To determine the specific heat capacity of two different types of metal blocks.
2. To determine the percentage difference between theoretical and experimental values
 for each specific heat capacity obtained.

APPARATUS
Sample metals (aluminum, iron, and copper), calorimeter set, thermometer, hot plate with
universal clamp, graduated cylinder, beaker, thread, and safety glove.
METHODOLOGY
Experiment was started by recording the mass of empty calorimeter with a stirrer, mc. The
transferred of 300 ml of water into a beaker was done by using a graduated cylinder. Next,
the mass of first metal was measured and recorded then it was attached to a thread in order to
hang the metal block using a universal clamp and heated the block inside the beaker until the
water reached its boiling point. We also ensured the block did not contact the beaker. For the
calorimeter set, we filled it with 175 ml of water then we measured and recorded the mass of
calorimeter with water, mc+w. Approximately two minutes were elapsed, we measured and
recorded the initial temperature of water inside the calorimeter, Ti. In the meantime, we
ensured that the temperature of boiling water and the metal inside the beaker were the same.
We swiftly removed the block from the breaker and submerged it into the calorimeter. While
the water was stirred, we measured and recorded the highest temperature, Tf of the system
before it started to decrease. We rinsed the calorimeter with the cold water, let it dried and the
entire procedure were repeated with the second metal.

RESULTS
A. The standard values of specific heat capacitites for certain materials and substances.

Substances Specific Heat Capacity, c (J/kg ℃)

Aluminium 900
Iron 448
Brass 380
Water 4186
B. Obtained data of metal block 1.

Title Reading Uncertainty

Mass of calorimeter 0.1867 kg ±0.01
Mass of calorimeter and water 0.3589 kg ±0.01
Mass of metal block, m1 0.0612kg ±0.01
Initial temperature of the block 100.0 ℃ ±0.5
Initial temperature of water 28.0 ℃ ±0.5
Final temperature of the block-water system 30.0 ℃ ±0.5

C. Obtained data of metal block 2.

Title Reading Uncertainty
Mass of calorimeter 0.1867 kg ±0.01
Mass of calorimeter and water 0.3589 kg ±0.01
Mass of metal block, m1 0.0202 kg ±0.01
Initial temperature of the block 100.0 ℃ ±0.5
Initial temperature of water 27.5 ℃ ±0.5
Final temperature of the block-water system 29.0 ℃ ±0.5

ANALYSIS
A. Specific heat capacity of metal block 1.

Mass of water, mw= 0.3589 kg - 0.1867 kg

Mass of water, mw= 0.1722 kg

Temperature change of the water in calorimeter, ∆T

= Final temperature of water – Initial temperature of water
= 30°C - 28°C
= 2°C

Specific Heat Capacity of Metal Block 1, cblock,

Heat released by the high-temperature body = Heat absorbed by the low-temperature body
(mblock)(cblock) (Tf – Ti) = -(mwater )(cwater) (Tf - T i)
(0.0612 kg) (cblock) (30 °C – 100 °C) = - (0.1722 kg) (4186 J/kg °C) (2 °C)
cblock = 336.52 J/kg °C

B. Specific Heat Capacity of metal block 2.

Mass of water, mw= 0.3589 kg - 0.1867 kg

Mass of water, mw= 0.1722 kg
Temperature change of the water in calorimeter, ∆T
= Final temperature of water – Initial temperature of water
= 29°C – 27.5°C
= 1.5°C

Specific Heat Capacity of Metal Block 1, cblock,

Heat released by the high-temperature body = Heat absorbed by the low-temperature body
(mblock)(cblock) (Tf – Ti) = -(mwater )(cwater) (Tf - T i)
(0.0202 kg) (cblock) (29°C – 27.5°C ) = - (0.1722 kg) (4186 J/kg °C) (1.5 °C)
cblock = 753.15 J/kg °C

PERCENTAGE ERROR

336.52−380
Percentage Error for Metal Block 1 = 380
x 100% = 11.44%

753.15−900
Percentage Error for Metal Block 2 = 900
x 100% = 16.33%
DISCUSSION

This experiment was started by picking out two different types of metal blocks to determine
the specific heat capacity of both blocks by using a calorimeter set. The metal blocks are
boiled with the water in a beaker before the they were put into calorimeter set.The final
temperature is recorded once the reading of the thermometer reaches the highest point before
it starts to decrease.

In this configuration, when there are two objects with different temperature in thermal contact,
they will be resulting in transfer of heat energy from higher temperature object to lower
temperature object by assuming no heat lost to surroundings. This situation can be related to
the conservation of energy which says that energy is neither created nor destroyed during a
reaction; it can only change forms. Hence, we use formula -Q hot = Q cold to determine
specific heat capacity of the two metal blocks.

The sources of error in this part of experiment are due to the random error during the transfer
of heated metal block from beaker to the calorimeter as the heat is lost to the surroundings.
Moreover, this experiment was conducted in an air-conditioned laboratory where energy can
easily loss during the experiment. Other than that, systematic error such as reading the scale
of thermometer wrongly or adding of insufficient amount of water in the calorimeter can be
one of the sources of error .

CONCLUSION

From this experiment, we managed to obtain the specific heat capacity of the two different
metal blocks.The value of specific heat capacity for the blocks were obtained by using -Qhot
= Qcold formula. We can come to conclusion that metal block 1 is a brass as the measured
specific heat capacity is 336.52 J/kg °C with percentage error of 11.44% which is close to
the actual specific heat capacity of brass, 380 J/kg °C. For the metal block 2, we conclude
that the block is an aluminium as the measured specific heat capacity is 753.15 J/kg °C with a
percentage error of 16.33% from the actual specific heat capacity of aluminium that is 900
J/kg °C. However, some of the reading may have uncertainty because of the systematic errors
and random errors.
POST-LAB QUESTIONS

1. Justify the suitability of wood as a building material in diverse climate zones.

Yes it is suitable since wood has a property to act as insulator. It does not allow heat
to escape from the house during winter and allow heat to come inside during summer.

2. Wrapping a hot food dish in shiny aluminium foil seems to keep the dish warm longer
than wrapping it in clear plastic film. Aluminium is a much better conductor of heat
than plastic, so why does it impede the flow of heat so well?

Because aluminium is indeed a better conductor of heat than plastic because of its reflective
properties. Aluminium foils reflects heat to prevent the heat from escaping the food and
minimizes heat loss in order to maintain the food’s temperature for a longer period.

REFERENCES
Foundation Physics I - PHY 094 Laboratory Manual. (2023).

Practices of Science: Scientific Error

DETERMINE SPECIFIC HEAT CAPACITY OF SOLID

LAW OF CONSERVATION ENERGY