Topic > Specific Heat of Aluminum: Test Experiment Laboratory Report

IndexPurposeTheoryVariables:Results:ConclusionPurposeThe purpose of this laboratory was to test and verify the specific heat of a metal. Students heated aluminum to understand and observe the specific equation of heat moving in a calorimeter. Using laboratory calculations, students were then able to calculate the actual specific heat obtained from the laboratory and compare it to the accepted value. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an original essayIf aluminum spheres are heated in the test tube and poured into the water in the plastic foam beaker, the specific heat calculated from both tests will be accurate because the accepted value for the specific heat of aluminum is independent of the mass of aluminum or water used. TheorySpecific heat is the amount of energy required to raise the temperature of one gram of a substance by one kelvin The laboratory uses the specific heat equation in two separate ways: first to find the heat acquired by the water and then the specific heat of the aluminum. The first equation is: Heat acquired by water=mass of water (g) X temperature change DT (°C) X specific heat of water. The specific heat of water is 4.18 J/g* °C. DT represents the change between the initial temperature and the final temperature. Joule is the unit used to express energy and is equivalent to the amount of work done by a force of 1 Newton acting over a distance of 1 meter in the direction of the force. The second equation is: Specific heat of aluminum = (Heat gained from water)/(Mass of metal (g)× ΔT of metal (°C)). The accepted value for the specific heat of aluminum is 0.90 J/g* °C. The laboratory also uses distilled water, which is water purified through a heating and cooling process.Variables:Independent variable: temperature of the aluminum spheresDependent variable : water temperature in the foam cup Controlled variables: water pressure, air temperature, size of foam cup, type of foam, size of test tube, type of aluminum balls, size of glass, type of thermometer, 2 plastic foam beakers, 250 ml beaker, non-specific amount of tap water, non-specific amount of distilled water, 2 x 18 x 150 mm test tubes, ring holder, test tube clamp, heating plate, thermometer, aluminum spheres , procedure: filled 250 ml beaker half full with tap water Placed beaker on hot plate Measured mass of empty test tube Aluminum spheres poured into empty test tube and measured new mass Test tube connected to ring clamp and ring clamp connected to ring stand Test tube lowered into 250 ml beaker and hot plate rotated to 10, taking care not to touch the bottom of the beakerMeasured mass of plastic foam beakerPlastic foam beaker filled with distilled water at room temperature and mass recordedMeasured and recorded temperature of distilled waterMeasured temperature and recorded some water in the beaker when it is near the boiling point Test tube removed containing metal from boiling water and metal poured into a foam beaker Slowly stir the water in a plastic beaker with a thermometer and record the maximum temperature. Carefully decant the water into the sink and place the foil on a paper towel to dry. Repeat steps 1 to 13 with the second test tube and a plastic cup. Qualitative observations: Excessive steam and 250ml bubble formation. glass after reaching the point of.