Table of ContentsObjectiveTheoryVariables:Results:ConclusionObjectiveThe aim of this laboratory was to test and verify the specific heat of a metal. Students heated aluminum to understand and observe the equation for specific heat moving in a calorimeter. Using the laboratory calculations, students were then able to calculate the actual specific heat obtained in the laboratory and compare it to the accepted value. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get an original test If the aluminum balls are heated in the test tube and poured into the water in the plastic foam cup, the specific heat calculated from both tests will be accurate as the accepted value for the specific heat of the aluminum is independent of the mass of aluminum or water used. TheorySpecific heat is the amount of energy required to raise the temperature of one gram of a substance by one kelvin. The lab uses the specific heat equation in two distinct ways: first to find the heat gained by water, then the specific heat of aluminum. The first equation is: Heat gained by water = mass of water (g) X temperature change DT (°C) X specific heat of water. The specific heat of water is 4.18 J/g* °C. DT represents the variation between the initial temperature and the final temperature. The Joule is the unit used to express energy and is equivalent to the amount of work done by a force of 1 Newton acting over a distance of 1 meter in the direction of the force. The second equation is: Specific heat of aluminum = (Heat gained by water)/(Mass of metal (g) × ΔT of metal (°C)). The accepted value for the specific heat of aluminum is 0.90 J/g* °C. The laboratory also uses distilled water, which is water purified by a heating and cooling process. Variables: Independent variable: Aluminum bead temperature Dependent variable: Water temperature in foam cup Controlled variables: Water pressure, air temperature, foam cup size, foam type, size of test tube, type of aluminum beads, size of beaker, type of thermometer, 2 plastic foam cups 250 ml beaker Non-specific amount of tap water Non-specific amount of distilled water 2 test tubes 18 150 mm Ring holder Test tube clamp Hot plate Thermometer Aluminum beads Procedure: Filled 250 ml Beaker half full with tap water Place beaker on hot plate Measured mass of empty test tube Pour in aluminum beads into the empty test tube and measure the new mass Test tube attached to the ring clamp and ring clamp attached to the ring stand Test tube lowered into a 250 ml beaker and turned the hotplate to 10 , being careful not to touch bottom of beaker Measured mass of plastic foam cup Plastic foam cup filled with distilled water at room temperature and recorded mass Measured and recorded temperature of distilled water Measured and recorded temperature of water in beaker at room temperature approaching boiling point Test tube containing metal removed from boiling water and metal poured into foam cup Slowly stir the water in a plastic cup with a thermometer and record the highest temperature. Carefully decant the water into the sink and place the foil on a paper towel to dry Repeat steps 1-13 with a second test tube and plastic cup Qualitative observations: Excessive steam and bubbling from 250 ml beaker after reaching the.