A student uses an immersion heater to determine the specific heat capacity of vegetable oil in an uncovered, uninsulated metal cup. The oil remains liquid. A joulemeter measures the electrical energy supplied. Before heating, the student uses the accepted value of the specific heat capacity of vegetable oil to predict the temperature rise, assuming that all the electrical energy supplied will increase the thermal energy of the oil. After heating, the student uses the joulemeter reading and the measured temperature rise to calculate the specific heat capacity.
Which statement describes the results the student should expect?
The measured temperature rise is below the prediction, so the calculated specific heat capacity is above the accepted value.
The measured temperature rise is below the prediction, so the calculated specific heat capacity is below the accepted value.
The measured temperature rise is above the prediction, so the calculated specific heat capacity is below the accepted value.
The measured temperature rise matches the prediction, so the calculated specific heat capacity equals the accepted value.
110 exam-style questions on Edexcel GCSE Physics 14.2 Specific heat capacity and latent heat, covering 14.2.1 Heating, temperature and changes of state, 14.2.2 Specific heat capacity and specific latent heat, 14.2.3 Specific heat capacity calculation, 14.2.4 Specific latent heat calculation, and 14.2.5 Reducing energy transfer through thermal insulation. Each one has a worked solution and a mark scheme showing where the marks go.