Specific heat capacity ; voltage ; heating water

In summary, the conversation discusses an experiment on the factors affecting the time to heat water from one temperature to another. The speaker has insulated the beaker and connected a heating element and a multimeter to measure voltage and current. They will use this information to calculate the energy provided and the specific heat capacity. They also mention altering the concentration by adding salt and ask if this is a viable method. The other person responds by reminding them to keep certain variables constant and asks for a list of all the variables that must be kept constant.
  • #1
rishabharora
1
0
Hi,
I am doing an experiment on the factors affecting the time to heat water from a set temperature to another, eg 20 to 35 deg C.
1. First, I have insulated the beaker properly, to minimise heat loss. I have connected a heating element to heat the water. Connected multimeter, give the voltage and current in the circuit. Using this, I can find the energy provided -
P = IV and then P = energy/ time.
Also, this should be equal to mc(delta temp) ; hence i can calculate the specific heat capacity.
I am altering the concentrating by adding salt.
Is this a viable method?? ?
Thanks
 
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  • #2
For me, this experiment sounds fine. Remember to keep some of the variables to be constant though. Can you tell me all the variables you can think of which must be kept constant?
 

What is specific heat capacity and why is it important?

Specific heat capacity is the amount of heat energy required to raise the temperature of a substance by one degree Celsius. It is an important physical property because it determines how much energy is needed to heat or cool a substance, and it can also be used to identify and compare different substances.

How is voltage related to heating water?

Voltage is a measure of the electric potential difference between two points. When an electric current flows through a resistor, such as a heating element in a water heater, it will generate heat due to the resistance. The higher the voltage, the more heat will be produced, leading to a higher temperature of the water.

What is the specific heat capacity of water?

The specific heat capacity of water is 4.18 joules per gram per degree Celsius. This means that it takes 4.18 joules of energy to raise the temperature of 1 gram of water by 1 degree Celsius. This is relatively high compared to other substances, making water a good thermal regulator.

How does specific heat capacity affect the heating of water?

The high specific heat capacity of water means that it can absorb a lot of heat energy before its temperature increases significantly. This is why water is commonly used to cool down hot objects or regulate the temperature of a system. It also means that it takes a lot of energy to heat water, making it an efficient heat storage medium.

Can specific heat capacity be changed?

Specific heat capacity is an intrinsic property of a substance and cannot be changed. However, the amount of heat energy needed to raise the temperature of a substance can be affected by factors such as pressure and temperature. For example, the specific heat capacity of water decreases at higher temperatures, meaning it requires less energy to raise its temperature by one degree.

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