The Specific Heat Capacity of Water

The specific heat capacity of a solid is the energy required to raise the temperature of 1 kg of that solid by 1 degree Celsius.
In this video I demonstrate a simple experiment to determine the specific heat capacity of water, using a simple electric heater.
The value obtained is much greater that the actual value: This will always generally be the case, as much of the heat that is added to the water is lost to the surroundings.
Points to consider:
What steps were taken to reduce heat loss?
How could the experiment be improved to further reduce heat loss?

[@aa-lr1jk]

Would be nice if you did the math behind these experiments. Its not even necessary that you do it on video, just a link in the comments is enough. Anyway, great video (as always you do). Thanks for it.

[@QuantumBoffin]

The videos are intended just to be simple demonstrations that could be used by a teacher in the classroom - hence why I rarely add explanations.
I really like you idea about putting a link in the description, though.

[@abdulazeezmsani8518]

Hello, this is a great video. I want to ask the power rating of the immersion heater and the type of power supply used. Is it a dc or an ac power supply? What would you recommend for this experiment?

[@dionisienatea3137]

hi. i was doing this experiment in a more controlled environment with high precision temperature measuring equipment and energy meters, vacuum insulated water container, 4.5kg of distilled water-to minimize the errors, i was stirring the water to avoid temperature stratification and every single time i got values for Cp around 4724 J/kgC. I run out of ideas of what could create the difference. Can we find out who and when and how were calculated values for water what we take for granted? i calculated the thermal losses to minute values and still doesn't get even close to the book values for water Cp-the difference is too high. Can anyone please give me an idea?

[@QuantumBoffin]

There are lots of sources of error and hence loads of improvements that can be made…
One thing to bear in mind is that you'll be heating the vessel that contains the water as well as the water itself, so try and use an insulating material and keep time to a minimum.
One other improvement, to reduce heat loss, is to start with your water cooled to a few degrees below a,Brent temperature, and then heat to the same temperature above: This way the heat gained from surroundings initially will balance the heat lost during the second part of the experiment.

[@dionisienatea3137]

@@QuantumBoffin thank you. I will try starting the measurement using chilled water and see if that make a difference. I am using vacuum insulated flask, i measured the heat loss fairly accurately by logging the temperature drop after water was heated and subtracting those values from the one's i got from heating the water, degree for degree. I will try with more power for shorter time to see if these make a difference too. Im doing all this because i want to find a good, reliable way for measuring a liquid Cp. I need to get the Cp values of some fluids and sending the fluids to a lab is not really an option.

[@ahmedahmed-tv3nw]

how u can measure q

[@leviathan9649]

I like your video !❤❤

[@drbsshivashankar9001]

Kindly present the data at the end of ur vdo or provide data sheet link in the vdo description. U r doing great job sir.❤️

[@tonypino2858]

Ik heb de GLAZE meter hier ook