Calculating Heat Capacity of Calorimeter

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Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around calculating the heat capacity of a calorimeter using a specific experiment involving the combustion of fructose. The original poster is confused about the units and calculations involved, particularly regarding the power supplied to the calorimeter and the temperature changes observed.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Conceptual clarification, Mathematical reasoning, Assumption checking

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • The original poster outlines a series of calculations based on the power of the heating tape and the temperature change, questioning whether they are on the right track. Other participants engage by clarifying the meaning of units and the definition of heat capacity, while also prompting further thought on the calculations.

Discussion Status

The discussion is active, with participants providing hints and clarifications regarding the calculations and units involved. There is an exploration of the relationship between heat capacity, energy, and temperature change, with some participants expressing uncertainty about the need to multiply by the temperature change in their final calculations.

Contextual Notes

Participants note the importance of distinguishing between units of measurement, such as Joules and Kelvin, and the implications of these units in the context of heat capacity. The original poster's confusion appears to stem from differing examples in their textbook and the specific parameters of the current problem.

Armitage12
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Need a little help, as I seem to have gotten confused.
Looking over past exam questions for the heat capacity of a calorimeter, this one is the one I am looking at :


A sample of the sugar fructose (C6H12O6) of mass 0.900 gwas placed in a calorimeter and
ignited inthe presence of excess oxygen, at the saturation vapour pressure of water and at
constant volume.The temperature rose by 1.4 K.
The calorimeter had previously been calibrated by passing an electrical current through a heating
tape for 100 s. The power supplied to the tape was 500 W and the temperature of the calorimeter
rose by 5 K


Right. The reason I am confused, is the textbook I've been reading from had similar worked examples, however they didn't have any values in watts. They have in Ampere and Volts.
As far as I am aware 1 watt is equal to 1j/s..


So to work the heat capacity of the calorimeter,
would i:


1) 500W*60 to get to 8.3 J/s
2) then multiply by 100s and divide by the 5K.
3) then multiply this answer by 1.4k, to get 233.3 joules.
4) Finally, divide by 1000, to get the heat capacity of the calorimeter at 0.23KJ?


Or am I way off?
 
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Armitage12 said:
Or am I way off?
Waayyy ooblackf.
Armitage12 said:
heating tape for 100 s
This is a clue.
Armitage12 said:
500 W
This is another clue. Hint, what's "Watt" mean, what are the units?
Armitage12 said:
rose by 5 K
Then, divide.
 
The units of W is one Joule per second?, so If i multiply the 500W by the 100s. I get 50000 J?
Do I then divide this by the 5K? Finally multiply by the 1.4k? to get the final answer at 14Kj?
 
Bystander said:
Waayyy ooblackf.

This is a clue.

This is another clue. Hint, what's "Watt" mean, what are the units?

Then, divide.

Armitage12 said:
The units of W is one Joule per second?, so If i multiply the 500W by the 100s. I get 50000 J?
Do I then divide this by the 5K? Finally multiply by the 1.4k? to get the final answer at 14Kj?

Or do I need not multiply by the 1.4k.

Is it simply 500w x 100s/ 5k= 10,000J/1000= 10kJ??
 
Why so uncertain?
Armitage12 said:
answer at 14Kj
Upper case "K" denotes Kelvin, or degrees Kelvin (same size as C); you'll want lower case "k" to denote "kilo" or thousand; lower case "j" has a number of meanings, but none indicate Joule, or upper case "J." Other than that, you're in business.
 
Armitage12 said:
Or do I need not multiply by the 1.4k.
Now I know why you're uncertain. What's the definition of "heat capacity?"
 
Bystander said:
Now I know why you're uncertain. What's the definition of "heat capacity?"

The amount of heat needed to raise the temperature of an object or substance by 1 degree.. So I don't need to multiply by 1.4k at the end?
Just 500W x 100s/5k= Heat capacity of Calorimeter? so 10 kJ?

Sorry its been a long day haha.
 
Armitage12 said:
heat needed to raise the temperature of an object or substance by 1 degree
Think. What are the units? You multiplied watts by seconds and got joules. If you divide joules by temperature, what do you get for units?
 
I would of assumed J/K?
 
  • #10
Yes. Now, you know the heat capacity of the calorimeter. You know the temperature rise for a particular measurement. How do you calculate the heat released in that measurement?
 
  • #11
Bystander said:
Yes. Now, you know the heat capacity of the calorimeter. You know the temperature rise for a particular measurement. How do you calculate the heat released in that measurement?

So now I just multiply it by the 1.4K? to get the amount of heat released as I had it in J/K. So as it was in Joules per kelvin, if i times by 1.4 Kelvin, the heat will adjust, so I will know how much?

But the question was only asking for the heat capacity of the calorimeter? not how much heat was released? So I am right in assuming, that for just the heat capacity of the calorimeter, I don't need to multiply by the 1.4K?
 
  • #12
Correct.
 
  • #13
Bystander said:
Correct.
You were a massive help, really appreciate it!
 

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