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Year 10
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Measuring specific heat capacity

I can measure the specific heat capacity of water and of a metal sample.

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New
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Year 10
Edexcel
Higher

Measuring specific heat capacity

I can measure the specific heat capacity of water and of a metal sample.

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Share activities with pupils
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Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. A joulemeter measures a total amount of energy transferred to an electric circuit.
  2. At equilibrium, a metal block is at the same temperature as the water bath it is in.
  3. Specific heat capacity, c, is measured in joules per kilogram per degree Celsius.

Keywords

  • Specific heat capacity - The change in internal energy when the temperature of 1 kg of the material changes by 1°C.

  • Immersion heater - An electrical heating element which can be submerged in liquid to heat it.

  • Joulemeter - A meter which measures the energy transferred by an electric current.

  • Conservation of energy - A principle which states that the total amount of energy is the same before and after any transfer.

Common misconception

A systematic error can be spotted by taking repeat readings.

Discuss why the heating of the beaker when measuring specific heat capacity of water will always increase energy measured by the same proportion.


To help you plan your year 10 physics lesson on: Measuring specific heat capacity, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...

While the electrical heating technique is more common, accurate joulemeters are expensive and the immersing metal blocks technique is often more accurate in measuring SHC. It also works best for large classes.
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Teacher tip
equipment-required

Equipment

Beaker, immersion heater, lid, thermometer, joulemeter, power supply, balance, timer, water bath (or way of boiling water), small metal samples, polystyrene cups, tongs.

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Content guidance

  • Risk assessment required - equipment
supervision-level

Supervision

Adult supervision required

copyright

Licence

This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2025), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).

Lesson video

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Starter quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
Which of the following statements about heating are correct?
Correct answer: Heating a sample of a material can increase its temperature.
Heating a sample of material can decrease its temperature.
All materials' temperatures change equally when given the same amount of energy.
Correct answer: Temperature change depends on the type of material.
Correct answer: Temperate change depends on the mass of a sample.
Q2.
Which of the following pieces of equipment should be used to measure the mass of a solid sample of a material?
joulemeter
Correct answer: top pan balance
Vernier callipers
ruler
beaker
Q3.
Which of the following pieces of equipment should be used to accurately measure the volume of a sample of a liquid?
beaker
top pan balance
Correct answer: measuring cylinder
displacement can
ruler
Q4.
Which of the following is a correct definition of the specific heat capacity of a material?
The temperature change when 1 kg of the material is heated using 1 J.
The temperature change when 1 kg of the material is heated using 1 kJ.
The energy change of a sample of material when its temperature changes by 1°C.
Correct answer: The energy change when 1 kg of the material changes temperature by 1°C.
The mass change when the material’s temperature increases by 1°C.
Q5.
An engineer heats six 0.5 kg samples of liquids using the same amount of energy. The temperature changes are shown. Starting with the greatest, sort the liquids into order of specific heat capacity.
1 - start temperature: 20°C; end temperature: 25°C
2 - start temperature: 19°C; end temperature: 25°C
3 - start temperature: 21°C; end temperature: 30°C
4 - start temperature: 20°C; end temperature: 30°C
5 - start temperature: 25°C; end temperature: 45°C
6 - start temperature: 28°C; end temperature: 55°C
Q6.
A block of hot metal is placed into a beaker of cold water. Which of the following statements are correct?
The overall energy transfer is from the water to the metal.
Correct answer: The overall energy transfer is from the metal to the water.
Correct answer: The water and metal will eventually reach the same temperature.
Correct answer: The energy loss from the metal is equal to the energy gain for the water.
The temperature change of the metal and water are equal.

Exit quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
Match the following key words or phrases to their definition.
Correct Answer:specific heat capacity,the change in energy required to heat 1 kg of a material by 1°C
tick

the change in energy required to heat 1 kg of a material by 1°C

Correct Answer:immersion heater,an electrical heater placed into a liquid to heat it
tick

an electrical heater placed into a liquid to heat it

Correct Answer:joulemeter,measures the energy transferred by an electric current
tick

measures the energy transferred by an electric current

Correct Answer:conservation of energy,the total amount of energy does not change during any interaction
tick

the total amount of energy does not change during any interaction

Q2.
A joulemeter shows a starting reading of 145 J. After five minutes, it shows 8240 J. How much energy has been transferred through the joulemeter in this time?
Correct Answer: 8095 J, 8.095 kJ, 8.095kJ, 8095J, 8095 joules
Q3.
0.1 kg samples, heated to the same temperature, are each put into 5 kg of cold water. The water temperatures are shown. Starting with the smallest, sort the metals in order of specific heat capacity.
1 - start temperature: 20°C; end temperature: 22°C
2 - start temperature: 19°C; end temperature: 22°C
3 - start temperature: 21°C; end temperature: 25°C
4 - start temperature: 20°C; end temperature: 25°C
5 - start temperature: 18°C; end temperature: 24°C
Q4.
A 0.50 kg piece of metal at 114°C is placed in 2.0 kg of water. The water reaches a temperature of 30°C. (SHC of the metal = 200 J/kg °C) How much energy did the metal transfer to the water? J
Correct Answer: 8400, 8400 J, 8400 joules, 8.4 kJ, 8. kilojoules
Q5.
A 0.50 kg sample of a metal is heated using 6000 J. Its temperature rises from 20.2°C to 32.2°C. Calculate the specific heat capacity of the metal.
373 J/kg °C
594 J/kg °C
500 J/kg °C
Correct answer: 1000 J/kg °C
2000 J/kg °C
Q6.
When placed in water, a metal block of mass 0.12 kg cools by 41.7°C. The energy transferred to the water by heating is 2000 J. What is the specific heat capacity of the metal to 3 s.f?
39 J/kg °C
40 J/kg °C
399.68 J/kg °C
Correct answer: 400 J/kg °C
10 000 J/kg °C

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