A student investigates the specific heat capacity of a 1.0 kg aluminium block using the required practical method. The block has two holes drilled into it: one holds an electrical heater connected to a joulemeter, and the other holds a thermometer. The block is wrapped in lagging. The heater is switched on and the block is heated for 10 minutes. change in thermal energy = mass * specific heat capacity * temperature change
(a)State why the block is wrapped in lagging.(1)
(b)The student records an initial temperature of 20.5 degreesC and a final temperature of 42.7 degreesC. Calculate the temperature change of the block.(1)
(c)The joulemeter shows that 20000 J of energy was supplied to the heater. Using this value, the mass of the block, and the temperature change from part (b), calculate the specific heat capacity of the aluminium block. Give your answer to 3 significant figures.(3)
(d)The accepted specific heat capacity of aluminium is 897 J/kg degreesC. Suggest one reason why the value calculated by the student in part (c) is higher than this accepted value.(1)
(Total for Question 7 is 6 marks)