Pearson Edexcel International GCSE (9–1) · PHYSICS · Section
Practical: investigate the specific heat capacity of a substance
17 practice questions
Practice questions
1–10 of 17
Question 1
1 mark · Easy
Answer and see the solution →State the SI unit of specific heat capacity.
Question 2
2 marks · Easy
Answer and see the solution →A student heats a 0.25 kg aluminium block from 20 °C to 40 °C, supplying 2,200 J of energy. Calculate the specific heat capacity of aluminium.
Question 3
1 mark · Easy
Answer and see the solution →Name two pieces of apparatus you would use to measure the temperature change in a specific heat capacity experiment.
Question 4
2 marks · Easy
Answer and see the solution →Explain why it is important to use insulation when measuring the specific heat capacity of a substance.
Question 5
3 marks · Easy
Answer and see the solution →A group of students wants to determine the specific heat capacity of a 0.3 kg sample of metal, using the apparatus shown.
(a)[1 mark]State the equation used to calculate the specific heat capacity (c) of the metal.
(b)[2 marks]List two measurements (other than mass) that the students must record during the experiment.
Question 6
2 marks · Easy
Answer and see the solution →In a specific heat capacity experiment, the heater is supplied with a voltage of 10 V and a current of 2.0 A for 5 minutes. Calculate the total energy supplied by the heater.
Question 7
1 mark · Easy
Answer and check →Which measurement should be recorded BEFORE switching on the heater in a specific heat capacity experiment?
- A.The final temperature of the substance
- B.The initial temperature of the substance
- C.The current supplied by the heater
- D.The time heater is turned on
Question 8
3 marks · Easy
Answer and see the solution →A student wants to find the specific heat capacity of a 0.5 kg block. The electric heater supplies energy for 400 s. The current is 3.0 A and voltage is 12 V. The temperature rise is 16 °C.
(a)[1 mark]Calculate the energy supplied by the heater.
(b)[2 marks]Calculate the specific heat capacity of the block.
Question 9
4 marks · Normal
Answer and see the solution →A student carries out an experiment to measure the specific heat capacity of a piece of copper metal using the apparatus below.
(a)[1 mark]State the equation used to calculate the energy supplied by the heater.
(b)[3 marks]The student measures the following values: - Mass of copper, - Voltage supplied by heater, - Current through heater, - Heating time, - Initial temperature, - Final temperature, Calculate the specific heat capacity of copper found by the experiment.
Question 10
4 marks · Normal
Answer and see the solution →A student wants to find the specific heat capacity of water using an electric immersion heater.
(a)[2 marks]Describe how the student could carry out this experiment. You may refer to apparatus, measurements, and calculations. List at least three key steps.
(b)[1 mark]State one precaution the student should take to improve the accuracy of the result.
(c)[1 mark]Explain why a lid is used on the beaker during the experiment.