Specific Heat Capacity
Calorimetry with Different Metals
Explore how different metals affect water temperature when heated samples are placed in a calorimeter. Observe how materials with different specific heat capacities transfer heat differently!
Calorimeter Experiment
Q = mcΔT
Metal: Aluminum |
Temp: 25°C |
SHC: 0.897 J/g°C
100°C
75°C
50°C
25°C
0°C
Observation:
Aluminum (higher specific heat capacity) causes a smaller temperature rise in the water compared to copper when samples at the same initial temperature are added.
The Science Behind Specific Heat Capacity
Key Concepts:
Specific Heat Capacity (SHC) is the amount of heat required to raise the temperature of 1 gram of a substance by 1°C:
- High SHC: Substance absorbs more heat with less temperature change (e.g., water, aluminum)
- Low SHC: Substance heats up quickly with less energy (e.g., copper, iron)
- Calorimetry: Measuring heat transfer between substances
Heat Transfer Equation:
The heat gained or lost can be calculated using:
Q = mcΔT
Where Q is heat, m is mass, c is specific heat capacity, and ΔT is temperature change.
