Measuring energy changes

Specific Heat capacity

• The amount of heat energy required to raise the temperature by one degree Celsius.

Material Specific heat capacity (J/g °C)

Water 4.2

Cooking Oil 1.2

Copper 0.38

Lead 0.13

Steel 0.46

How can we work out how much energy a fuel releases?

How to calculate the energy change in this situation

• Burning alcohol raised the temperature of 50cm of water from 16 degrees celcius to 41 degrees celcius. How much energy was released by the fuel?

You can calculate the amount of energy required to heat something using the following

equation E = m × C × T

Energy mass specific heat temperature Transferred capacity change (J) (g) (J/g°C) (°C)

50 x 4.2 x 25 = 5250J

Complete Q1 + 2(a)