- #1
Peter G.
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The question involves testing the Specific Heat Capacity of an aluminum block, using the equation: Q = m x Specific Heat Capacity x Change in Temperature.
Two experiments are performed using the same power of the heater and the same mass of the object and a very similar change in temperature, but, the significant difference is that in the first experiment the temperature changed from about 21 degrees to 42 degrees Celsius while in the second one the temperature changed from 41 to 62 Celsius. The results were slightly different.
The question then asks us to: Suggests two reasons why the results differed and two ways to solve these issues:
I believe that the results can have been different due to changes in the room environment, such as a change in room temperature: (e.g.: Air conditioner was turned on) since the question makes no mention in keeping the environment constant.
Furthermore, the second experiment could have required more energy to raise the temperature of 1 kg of aluminum because, being at a higher temperature, it lost heat more readily to the environment than in the first experiment.
I suggested lagging the aluminum block and also keeping the environment conditions constant.
Any ideas, plus, are my suggestions correct?
Thanks PeterG
Two experiments are performed using the same power of the heater and the same mass of the object and a very similar change in temperature, but, the significant difference is that in the first experiment the temperature changed from about 21 degrees to 42 degrees Celsius while in the second one the temperature changed from 41 to 62 Celsius. The results were slightly different.
The question then asks us to: Suggests two reasons why the results differed and two ways to solve these issues:
I believe that the results can have been different due to changes in the room environment, such as a change in room temperature: (e.g.: Air conditioner was turned on) since the question makes no mention in keeping the environment constant.
Furthermore, the second experiment could have required more energy to raise the temperature of 1 kg of aluminum because, being at a higher temperature, it lost heat more readily to the environment than in the first experiment.
I suggested lagging the aluminum block and also keeping the environment conditions constant.
Any ideas, plus, are my suggestions correct?
Thanks PeterG