Specific Heat Experiment EX-5524A

In this experiment designed for use with PASCO Capstone software, students learn that materials can be identified using specific heat as a measurable characteristic. A known mass of water is used and the unknown material is placed in the water. The initial temperature of the water and the unknown material are measured. The equilibrium temperature is found and from this the specific heat of the unknown material is derived.

By performing this experiment in two ways (water warming, water cooling) students explore how experiment design may alter results. Finally students explore sources of error and magnitude of error.