Measuring Specific Heat Capacity and Power
Specific heat capacity (SHC) tells you how much energy is needed to raise 1kg of a substance by 1°C. The practical to measure this involves heating a metal block or water whilst carefully monitoring temperature changes.
You'll measure the mass using a top-pan balance, then use an electrical heater whilst recording voltage and current. After a set time, you calculate the temperature change and work out the power supplied using P = VI, then energy supplied using E = Pt.
Finally, rearrange the SHC equation c=ΔE/mΔT to find your answer. Remember that some energy always escapes to the surroundings, so your calculated SHC will likely be higher than the actual value.
Power measures the rate of energy transfer and is measured in Watts (W). This connects energy and time, showing how quickly energy changes happen in different situations.
Exam focus: Practice rearranging these equations - examiners love testing whether you can manipulate the formulas to find different variables!