Physics IA

Initial temp Final temp Concentration Specific heat

capacity
25.1 30.8 0% 4.21
25.1 30.9 10% 4.13
25.1 31.1 20% 4
25.1 31.3 30% 3.87
25.1 31.6 40% 3.69
PHYSICS HL

LAB
REPORT
 Sahil Khandare
Physics as a …….(personal engagement)
Grade 11 IB
Research Question:

What is the relation between the specific heat capacity of water and its concentration?

Variables:

1) Independent – Concentration of salt in water

2) Dependent – Specific heat capacity

3) Controlled – Heat given, initial temperature of water

Hypothesis:

Fff

Apparatus:

1) Calorimeter

2) Voltmeter

3) Connecting wires

4) Power generator

5) Ammeter

6) Salt

7) Water

8) Measuring cylinder

9) Laboratory weighing machine

10) Digital thermometer

11) Stirrer

12) Paper cups

Background Theory:

Xxxx

Important definitions

1) D

2) D
Procedure:

Reading 1-

1) Using a measuring cylinder, measure out water of volume 100mL and pour it into the
copper vessel of the calorimeter.

2) Dip the metal tip of the digital thermometer into the calorimeter and record the
water’s initial temperature.

3) Connect the calorimeter along with the voltmeter and ammeter to the power
generator and plug in the power generator to the power source to set up the
experiment.

4) Switch on the power source for a duration of 10 minutes while ensuring that the
voltage is 2 Volts and the current is 2 Amperes. Throughout the 10 minutes, keep on
stirring the water with the help of a stirrer.

5) At the end of 10 minutes, record the final temperature of the water using the digital
thermometer.

Reading 2-

1) Using the laboratory weighing machine, measure out 10 g of salt.

2) Using a measuring cylinder, measure out 90 mL of water.

3) Pour the water into a paper cup and mix in the salt by continuous stirring. Ensure that
the salt is completely dissolved in the water.

4) Pour the mixture into the copper vessel of the calorimeter.

5) Repeat steps 2, 3, 4 and 5 of Reading 1.

6) Repeat this experiment taking 80 mL of water with 20 g of salt, 70 mL of water with

30 g of salt and 60 mL of water with 40 g of salt to ensure that the concentration of
salt in the different readings is 10%, 20%, 30% and 40%.

Safety:

1) While plugging in the power generator into the power source, ensure that your hand
does not touch any metal to prevent electrical shocks. Also when connecting the
calorimeter, ammeter and voltmeter to the power generator, ensure that the switch of
the power source remains off to prevent flow of current.

2) After completing a reading, allow the copper vessel of the calorimeter to cool down
before handling it.
Raw Data Table:

Sr no. Concentration of salt in Initial temp. (°C) Final temp. (°C)

water
1. 0% 25.1 °C 30.8 °C

2. 10% 25.1 °C 30.9 °C

3. 20% 25.1 °C 31.1 °C

4. 30% 25.1 °C 31.3 °C

5. 40% 25.1 °C 31.6 °C

Other things to take into consideration-

1) Heat – Heat imparted is the same for all the readings. To calculate the heat, equate
the voltage, current and time into the formula Q=VIt. Thus by substituting ‘V’ as 2, ‘I’
as 2 and ‘t’ as 10 min (600 s), we arrive at Q=2400 J.

2) Mass – The mass of the different readings remains constant at 100 g despite
increase in concentration of salt. This is because as the mass of salt is increased, the
volume of water is subsequently decreased.

*(°C) – degree Celsius

Processed Data Table:

Sr no. Conc. of Initial temp. (°C) Final temp. (°C) ∆t (°C) Specific Heat
salt in water [Initial – Final] Capacity (J/g K)
1. 0% 25.1 °C ± 0.1 30.8 °C ± 0.1 5.7 °C ± 0.1 4.21 J/g K
°C °C °C

2. 10% 25.1 °C ± 0.1 30.9 °C ± 0.1 5.8 °C ± 0.1 4.13 J/g K

°C °C °C
3. 20% 25.1 °C ± 0.1 31.1 °C ± 0.1 6.0 °C ± 0.1 4.00 J/g K
°C °C °C

4. 30% 25.1 °C ± 0.1 31.3 °C ± 0.1 6.2 °C ± 0.1 3.87 J/g K

°C °C °C
5. 40% 25.1 °C ± 0.1 31.6 °C ± 0.1 6.5 °C ± 0.1 3.69 J/g K
°C °C °C

*(°C) – degree Celsius

Graphs:

Result:
Xxx

Limitations:

1) Ff

2) Kk

Improvement:

1) Hj

2) Uu

Pictures: