Specific Heat Capacity and Latent Heat Questions - GCSE standard

Q14.

Bill performs an experiment to find the specific heat capacity of water.

He heats up 1kg of water, using an immersion heater.

He measures the temperature rise and calculates the specific heat capacity of the water.

Attempt	Energy supplied /J	Temperature rise /°C	Specific heat capacity in J/kg°C
1	10000	2	5000
2	21000	4	5250
3	44000	8	5500

(a)

(i) Calculate the mean specific heat capacity.

[1 mark]

(ii) Describe the conclusions that can be drawn from the data.

[3 marks]

(b) The actual value for the specific heat capacity of water is 4200J/kg°C.

(i) Explain why the mean specific heat capacity calculated in (a)(i) is higher than the actual value.

[2 marks]

(ii) Identify two problems with this experimental procedure and suggest how each one could be solved.

[4 marks]

(10 marks total)