Question

Explain the procedure of finding specific heat of solid experimentally. 

(OR) 

Determination of specific heat of solid experimentally. 

(OR) 

Ravi wanted to prepare solid with high specific heat to use on cooking utensil. What fool does he need to find the specific heat of aluminium and copper? How should he conduct the experiment?

Answer 1

Aim : 

To find the specific heat of given solid. Apparatus : Calorimeter, thermometer, stirrer, water, steam heater, wooden box and lead shots. 

Procedure:

1. Measure the mass of the calorimeter with stirrer = m₁ gm 

2. Fill water one third volume of calorimeter and measure the mass = m₂ gm. 

3. At this time initial temperature = T₁.

4. Mass of the water = m₂ – m₁ gm. 

5. Take a few lead shots and place them in steam heater and heat up to 100° C. Let this temperature be T₂

6. Transfer the lead shots into calorimeter and measure the final (or) resultant temperature T₃.

7. Mass of calorimeter with contents = m₃ gm and mass of lead shots = m₃ – m₂ gm. 

8. If the specific heats of the calorimeter, lead shots and water are S_c' , S_l and S_w respectively, by using method of mixtures 

we have 

Heat lost by the solid = Heat gained by the calorimeter + water

9. Knowing the specific heats of calorimeter and water we can calculate specific heat of solid (lead shots).