Student Exploration: Calorimetry Lab
Vocabulary: calorie, calorimeter, joule, specific heat capacity
Prior Knowledge Questions (Do these BEFORE using the Gizmo.)
1. The Latin word calor means “heat,” and meter comes from the Greek word meaning “to
measure.” What do you think a calorimet...
2. Where have you heard the word calorie before? What do you think a calorie is? _________
_________________________________________________________________________
when looking at the nutritional facts on the back of a food container
Gizmo Warm-up
A calorimeter is an insulated container filled with a liquid,
usually water. When a hot object is placed in the calorimeter,
heat energy is transferred from the object to the water and the
water heats up.
Calorimeters can be used to find a substance’s specific heat
capacity. You will use the Calorimetry Lab Gizmo to
determine the specific heat capacities of various substances.
1. On the SIMULATION pane, select Copper. Use the slider to set its Mass to 200 g. Set the
Water mass to 200 g. Check that the Water temp is set to 30.0 °C and the copper’s Temp
is 90 °C. Select the GRAPH tab, and click Play ( ).
A. What was the Final temperature of the copper and the water? _________________
34.96
B. How much did the temperature of the copper change? ________________________
55.04
C. How much did the temperature of the water change? _________________________
4.96
2. Specific heat capacity can be described as a substance’s resistance to temperature
changes. Which substance has a greater specific heat capacity, copper or water? Explain.
_________________________________________________________________________
water, because its temperature only changed by 4.96 compared to 55.04
C. How do you think increasing or decreasing the copper’s initial temperature would
affect the final temperature? ____________________________________________
It wouldn't affect it that much
___________________________________________________________________
since the specific heat capacity is larger on water
2. Collect data: Use the Gizmo to determine the final temperature for each set-up listed below.
Record your results in the tables. In the first table, you experiment with changing the water’s
mass. In the second table, you change the copper’s mass. In the third table, you change the
initial temperature of the copper. The first row of each table has been completed for you.
Copper Water Final Temp.
Initial Temp. (°C) Mass (g) Initial Temp. (°C) Mass (g) (°C)
3.
90 °C 200 g 30.0 °C 200 g 34.96 °C
90 °C 200 g 30.0 °C 2,000 g 30.54
4.
90 °C 200 g 30.0 °C 200 g 34.96 °C
90 °C 20 g 30.0 °C 200 g 30.54
2018
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