Figure 1 shows a laboratory setup designed to investigate how different surface finishes affect the absorption of thermal radiation.
Two identical copper calorimeters are placed on insulating wooden blocks, equidistant from a high-intensity halogen heat lamp. One calorimeter has a matte black finish, while the other has a polished copper finish. Both calorimeters contain equal volumes of water at the same initial temperature.
Describe how a student could use the apparatus shown in Figure 1 to determine which surface is the better absorber of thermal radiation.