Tabulation of Data Table 9.1 mass of calorimeter (mc)g kg
mass of calorimeter water (mcw) gkg mass of aluminium (mal)g kg initial temperature of aluminium (al)
initial temperature of water (I) final temperature of water (F)
C C C
mass of water (mw)g kg specific heat capacity of copper (cc)
specific heat capacity of aluminium (cal) specific heat capacity of water (cw)
390 J kg1 K1 910 J kg1 K1
J kg1 K1
Precautions The initial temperature of the water should be below room temperature, so that any heat lost to the environment after the water heats up will be negated by the gain from the environment before it heats up.
When heating the aluminium, use a stirrer to ensure the initial temperature of the aluminium is the same as the water in the beaker.
Move the aluminium from the beaker to the calorimeter quickly to avoid heat loss to the environment. Dry the aluminium to ensure no hot water is added to the calorimeter. Gently place the piece of aluminium in the calorimeter to avoid splashes. This would cause a loss in the mass of water being studied.
Ensure the calorimeter is well insulated with lagging and a lid, so as to minimise the heat lost to or gained from the environment.
Use a digital thermometer as it is accurate to 0.1 C. Use a thermometer and stirrer with low specific heat capacity, as it is assumed that no heat is lost to the environment during this experiment.
Using a larger mass of aluminium would result in a greater rise in temperature.This would reduce the percentage error.
Safety Precaution Take care when handling hot apparatus. Note
The same experiment could be used to calculate the specific heat capacity of aluminium if the specific heat capacity of water was given (cw is 4 180 J kg1 K1).
