Specific Heat Capacity

Discussion:

In this experiment we found out the specific heat capacity of brass using the method of mixtures. This was done by taking a piece of brass finding out its mass using the weighing scales and placing it in a beaker of boiling water for 20 minutes. Then it was transferred to a calorimeter of water. The mass of the calorimeter and water had been found out before this stage by weighing the calorimeter with and without water. The water temperature was recorded before and after the transfer of the brass. The rise in temperature in the calorimeter was also recorded. In an ideal world the heat lost by the brass would be equal to the heat gained by the water and calorimeter. But there were losses in heat when moving the brass from the boiling water as it will start cooling as soon as it hits the air. This should be minimised by transferring it as quickly as possible into the calorimeter. Heat can also be lost out through the top of the calorimeter. This could be reduced by having a lid on it. Inaccuracies could also ar ar ise from human error in reading measurements like mass and temperature. Conclusion:

At the end of the experiment we found the specific heat capacity of brass to be 324J/kg/K. In literature it was said to be 380J/kg/k.This was a difference of  56J/kg/K. This was probably down to heat losses in the experiment and uncertainties or human error in the measurements. There was a 17%

  difference our result and that in literature.  

   

   