Figure 1
The specific heat is the amount of heat per unit mass required to raise the temperature of a substance by one degree Celsius. The relationship between heat and temperature change is expressed as: đ?‘„ = đ?‘šđ?‘?∆đ?‘‡
(1)
Where: Q = The amount of heat added or removed m = The mass of the heated substance c = The specific heat ΔT = The temperature change This relationship does not apply if a phase change is encountered, because the heat added or removed during a phase change does not change the temperature of the substance. In this experiment you will determine the specific heat of water. You will heat the water by passing current through an electric resistor. The energy dissipated by the resistor is given by: đ?‘„ = đ?‘‰đ??źâˆ†đ?‘Ą Where:
(2)