Science Buddies: "Ask an Expert"

Hi,
I have to create an experiment for my assignment in Physics.
I've chosen to do something about Specific Heat Capacity. A boy in my class is also doing SHC so I wanted to make mine a little different from his.

I've just recently joined physics (never done it before) and I was wondering if Specific Heat Capacity and Specific Latent Heat have anything in common. Or if there is any way that I could include them in the same experiment and somehow discuss how (if) they relate to eachother by comparing the results from the experiment.


Thanks

Hi,

Here is a Science Buddies experiment writeup on measuring specific heat capacity:

https://www.sciencebuddies.org/science- ... p092.shtml

Here is a Science Buddies experiment on measuring the latent heat of crystalization:

https://www.sciencebuddies.org/science- ... p085.shtml

Here are articles on Heat Capacity that provide a good overview of the topic:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heat_capacity

http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hb ... /spht.html

http://scienceworld.wolfram.com/physics ... cHeat.html

These articles discuss (specific) latent heat:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Latent_heat

http://www.sasked.gov.sk.ca/docs/physics/u4b2phy.html

Here is a physics experiment that combines measuring both specific heat and specific latent heat (of fusion):

http://phoenix.phys.clemson.edu/labs/22 ... index.html

Note that latent heat is the amount of heat absorbed or released in a phase change where specific heat is that amount of heat required to change the temperature of a substance without a phase change.

Have fun with your project!

Best regards,

Barrett L. Tomlinson

Thankyou so much for all the information

I think i want to just focus on "latent heat" for my experiment considering i'm only new to physics. I think that if i were to try and do an experiment with both latent heat and heat capacity it would confuse me too much.

Do you think that the experiment below in the link is any good to do? I was thinking of doing this one and then also doing one exactly the same but with salt water (or something similar) and then comparing the two sets of results and putting them in graphs.

http://www.absorblearning.com/media/ite ... n?quick=zy

Please let me know what you think, as it would be greatly appreciated

Thanks.

Hi,

The experiment description you provided a link to could make a good project in my opinion, but really I am not the one whose opinion should count. You are the one who must do the work and be happy with the experience, so you are in the best position to judge how good the idea is. To help you make this judgement you probably should read through the Science Buddies Project Guide:
https://www.sciencebuddies.org/science- ... l?From=Tab

Pay particular attention to the section on “Your Question”:

https://www.sciencebuddies.org/science- ... tion.shtml

If you read all the way through this page there are some checklists to help you determine how good an idea you have for a project. A great project is one you are really excited about doing. A truly exceptional project is like going into a really good candy store for the first time that has lots of candy types you have never seen before and being offered free samples of anything you want try. You kind of rush around finding more and more things that fascinate you and that you had never dreamed existed or were related, then if you are lucky you have an aha! moment when you realize “That’s why that happens!”. It can be a really wonderful and exciting mountain top experience.

I wish you every success.

Best regards,

Barrett L Tomlinson