An experiment is carried out to determine the specific heat capacity of a copper block using an electrical heater. The block is placed inside an insulating jacket, with an electrical immersion heater and a thermometer inserted into holes in the block.
State the measurements the student needs to make, including those from the electrical circuit. For each quantity measured, state a symbol.
Use your symbols from (a) to write the formula used to determine the specific heat capacity, ccc, of the copper.
Another student performs the experiment without using the insulating jacket. This student obtains a higher calculated value for the specific heat capacity ccc. Explain why the lack of insulation leads to this higher value.
528 exam-style questions on CIE IGCSE Physics 2.2 Thermal properties and temperature, covering 2.2.1 Thermal expansion of solids, liquids and gases, 2.2.2a Internal energy and temperature, 2.2.2b Specific heat capacity, 2.2.3a Melting, boiling, condensation and solidification, 2.2.3b Evaporation, and 2.2.3c Cooling by evaporation. Each one has a worked solution and a mark scheme showing where the marks go.