Specific Heat Lab

Pour the same energy into 1 kg of each material and watch how differently they warm. Low specific heat = fast to heat.

Heat input (Q) 10,000 J

0 J50,000 J

Waterc = 4186 J/kg·°C

ΔT 0.0 °C20.0 °C

Aluminiumc = 900 J/kg·°C

ΔT 0.0 °C20.0 °C

Ironc = 450 J/kg·°C

ΔT 0.0 °C20.0 °C

Q = m · c · ΔT → ΔT = Q / (m·c). Equal Q and equal mass (1 kg) mean a smaller c gives a bigger temperature rise.