Specific Heat
Introduction
Specific heat is defined as the measure of the ability of a substance to change temperature. Specific heat of a substance is the heat needed to change the temperature of 1 gram of a substance once degree Celsius. The more Joules (unit of heat) needed, the higher the specific heat will be. The goal is to determine specific heat of a soil sample as compared to water. This difference has many ramifications regarding our climate, with local and global.
Hypothesis
I predict that after 10 minutes of being placed under the same heat lamp, the soil will absorb heat faster, therefore ending with a higher temperature than the water.
Materials
• 2 petri dishes
• Soil
• Water
• 2 thermometers
• Heat lamp
Procedure
1. Design lab tables.
2. Record mass of petri dish and then add enough soil to fill it to the brim. Record mass again. The difference is the mass of the soil sample.
3. Record the mass of another petri dish and fill it with water. Record the mass again. The difference is the mass of the water.
4. Place the thermometers so that the bulb of one is beneath the surface of the soil and the bulb of the other is under the water.
5. Place both samples under a heat lamp, making sure the thermometers stay under the samples. Bring the lamp close to the petri dishes so that they are heated equally.
6. Record the temperature of each thermometer every 30 seconds, for 10 minutes.
7. Graph your temperature data on the same set of coordinates.
Data Tables
Mass and Temperature Data Soil Water
Mass of Petri Dish and Material 223.1g 171.4g
Mass of Petri Dish Empty 16g 16g
Mass of Material 207.1g 155.4g
Initial Temperature 23°C 24°C
Final Temperature 25.5°C 25°C
Temperature Readings
# Soil Water # Soil Water
1 23°C 24°C 11 24°C 25°C
2 23°C 24°C 12 24°C 25°C
3 23°C 24°C 13 24°C 25°C
4 23°C 24°C 14 24.25°C 25°C
5 23°C 24°C 15 24.5°C 25°C
6 23.5°C 24.5°C 16 24.75°C 25°C
7 23.5°C 24.5°C 17 25°C 25°C
8 23.5°C 24.75°C 18 25°C
Specific heat is defined as the measure of the ability of a substance to change temperature. Specific heat of a substance is the heat needed to change the temperature of 1 gram of a substance once degree Celsius. The more Joules (unit of heat) needed, the higher the specific heat will be. The goal is to determine specific heat of a soil sample as compared to water. This difference has many ramifications regarding our climate, with local and global.
Hypothesis
I predict that after 10 minutes of being placed under the same heat lamp, the soil will absorb heat faster, therefore ending with a higher temperature than the water.
Materials
• 2 petri dishes
• Soil
• Water
• 2 thermometers
• Heat lamp
Procedure
1. Design lab tables.
2. Record mass of petri dish and then add enough soil to fill it to the brim. Record mass again. The difference is the mass of the soil sample.
3. Record the mass of another petri dish and fill it with water. Record the mass again. The difference is the mass of the water.
4. Place the thermometers so that the bulb of one is beneath the surface of the soil and the bulb of the other is under the water.
5. Place both samples under a heat lamp, making sure the thermometers stay under the samples. Bring the lamp close to the petri dishes so that they are heated equally.
6. Record the temperature of each thermometer every 30 seconds, for 10 minutes.
7. Graph your temperature data on the same set of coordinates.
Data Tables
Mass and Temperature Data Soil Water
Mass of Petri Dish and Material 223.1g 171.4g
Mass of Petri Dish Empty 16g 16g
Mass of Material 207.1g 155.4g
Initial Temperature 23°C 24°C
Final Temperature 25.5°C 25°C
Temperature Readings
# Soil Water # Soil Water
1 23°C 24°C 11 24°C 25°C
2 23°C 24°C 12 24°C 25°C
3 23°C 24°C 13 24°C 25°C
4 23°C 24°C 14 24.25°C 25°C
5 23°C 24°C 15 24.5°C 25°C
6 23.5°C 24.5°C 16 24.75°C 25°C
7 23.5°C 24.5°C 17 25°C 25°C
8 23.5°C 24.75°C 18 25°C