Product Summary
In this experiment designed for use with PASCO Capstone software, students learn that materials can be identified using specific heat as a measurable characteristic. A known mass of water is used and the unknown material is placed in the water. The initial temperature of the water and the unknown material are measured. The equilibrium temperature is found and from this the specific heat of the unknown material is derived.
By performing this experiment in two ways (water warming, water cooling) students explore how experiment design may alter results. Finally, students explore sources of error and magnitude of error.
Concepts
- Thermal Energy
- Equilibrium Temperature
- Specific Heat
What's Included
Data Collection Software
This product requires PASCO software for data collection and analysis. We recommend the following option(s). For more information on which is right for your classroom, see our Software Comparison: SPARKvue vs. Capstone »
Interface Required
This product requires a PASCO Interface to connect to your computer or device. We recommend the following option(s). For a breakdown of features, capabilities, and additional options, see our Interface Comparison Guide »
Experiments
Experiment Library
Perform the following experiments and more with the Specific Heat Experiment.
Visit PASCO's Experiment Library to view more activities.
College / Physics
The purpose of this activity is to determine the specific heat of a metal object and see how that can help identity the metal. A Temperature Sensor is used to measure the change in temperature of a known quantity of water when...
