The specific heat capacity of unknown metals can be determined by placing measured amounts of water and metal in a calorimeter and determining the temperature changes for both. The same equation above may be used to calculate the specific heat of the metal. The specific heat capacity of the metal would be the only unknown. Students should be encouraged to design and implement their own investigations. For example they might want to research why the specific heat capacities of solids and liquids are practically constant over a wide range of temperatures while that of gases vary widely.
Objectives Differentiate between heat and temperature.
Describe conditions under which heat is transferred. Convert between units used to measure energy. Describe endothermic and exothermic processes. Perform calculations involving specific heat. Activities that could be performed during this unit.