Question

Describe a method to determine the specific heat capacity of a solid, like a piece of copper ?

Answer 1

We can do a simple experiment as follows:
1) The given solid in the form of a small piece, is first weighed and is then heated by suspending
it by a thread in a beaker containing boiling water.

2) While the solid is getting heated, the empty dry calorimeter with the stirrer is weighed. The
calorimeter is then filled nearly one third with water and is weighed again. The difference in
the two reading gives the mass of water taken.
3) The initial temperature of water in the calorimeter is noted with a thermometer.
4) When the solid has attained the steady temperature, its temperature is recorded by the
thermometer kept in boiling water.
5) The solid is then gently dropped into the calorimeter carefully without splashing out the
water.
6) The contents of the calorimeter are well stirred and the final highest temperature reached is
noted.
Then specific heat capacity of solid can be calculated by the formula:

`c = ([(m_2 - m_1) c_w + m_1 c_c] ( T - T_1))/ (m (T_2 - T)) JKg ^-1 K^-1`

where, Mass of solid = m kg
Mass of calorimeter = m1 kg
Mass of calorimeter + water = m2 Kg
Initial temperature of water = T1°C
Temperature of heated solid = T2°C
Temperature of mixture = T ° C
c is the specific heat capacity of solid
cc is the specific heat capacity of material of the calorimeter
cw is the specific heat capacity of water.