Heating, specific heat and latent heat

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Question 17
Easy

A researcher investigates the thermal storage properties of basalt rock for use in a concentrated solar power plant. They use an electrical cartridge heater to heat a 2.5 kg cylindrical basalt core sample to determine its specific heat capacity.

Experimental setup for measuring the specific heat capacity of a basalt rock sample

The researcher calculates the expected temperature increase of the basalt rock sample based on the electrical energy input. However, the experimentally measured temperature increase is lower than this calculated value.

Explain why the actual temperature increase of the basalt rock sample is smaller than calculated.

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Heating, specific heat and latent heat Questions

  1. GCSE
  2. /Physics
  3. /Heating, specific heat and latent heat