Physics
Specific heat capacity of solids
A typical way to introduce students to a fundamental concept such as specific heat, comparing steel and copper.
10–20 min
Heat and temperature
specific heat capacity; calorimetry
What students learn
- Heat transfer
- Equilibrium temperature
- Specific heat
The science behind this experiment
The specific heat of iron is greater than that of water. When the same amount of heat is supplied, the temperature rises faster in water containing iron, because the metal has a higher tendency to store and release heat than water does.
Equipment used
- Mixing Calorimeter — 4230.60
- Thermometer (-10° / +110 °) — 2240.15
- Beaker low form, borosilicate glass, 500ml — 1118.50
- Specific heat cylinders — 4230.96
- Electronic balance 300 g/readability 0.01 g — 2219.30
Chemicals and reagents
Safety notes
Questions for students
- What is it possible to argue according to the results obtained from the proposed experiment?
What to expect
Disposal
Run this experiment in your classroom
This experiment is part of the ATP Mobile Lab — a self-contained laboratory that turns an ordinary classroom into a working science lab, with over 200 experiments in physics, chemistry, biology, robotics and engineering. Gali, the AI tutor built into ATP Connect, guides students through each step and answers their questions at the bench.
See the Mobile LabTalk to our team