Specific heat capacity and changes of state
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Big idea: specific heat capacity and changes of state
- Key concept: Change. Energy transferred equals mass times specific heat capacity times temperature change. During a phase change, energy changes particle arrangements without necessarily raising temperature.
- Related concepts: Models and evidence. Use a scientific explanation to make predictions, then test it against observations.
- Global context: Scientific and technical innovation. Thermal properties help choose materials for heating and cooling systems.
Thermal Expansion
- When a material is heated at constant pressure, its temperature increases, volume expands, and density decreases.
- Expansion occurs because molecules gain kinetic energy, vibrate/move faster, and push each other apart.
- Solids expand the least, gases expand the most, and liquids are in between.
- Useful applications: liquid-in-glass thermometers (liquid expands in capillary tube) and bimetallic strips (two metals expand at different rates, bending to close a circuit).
- Undesirable consequences: buckling of railway tracks, road surfaces, and bridges; gaps are built in to allow expansion.
Thermal expansion diagram

Specific Heat Capacity
- Internal energy is the total energy stored in a system due to particle motion (kinetic) and positions (potential).
- Temperature is a measure of the average kinetic energy of particles.
- Specific heat capacity (c) is the energy required to raise the temperature of 1 kg of a substance by 1 °C.
- Low c → heats up/cools down quickly; high c → heats up/cools down slowly.
- Equation: \Delta E = m c \Delta \θ , where \Delta E in J, m in kg, c in J/kg°C, \Delta \θ in °C.
Kinetic and potential energy of particles in a liquid

Investigating Specific Heat Capacity
- Aim: determine specific heat capacity by measuring energy supplied (E = IVt) and temperature change.
- Independent variable: time; dependent variable: temperature; control: material, current, voltage.
- Equipment: thermometer, immersion heater, beaker/block, ammeter, voltmeter, power supply, digital balance, stopwatch.
- Method: record mass, initial temperature, then heat while recording current, voltage, and temperature every 60 s for 10 min.
- Calculate \Delta E = IV\Delta t and c = \Delta E / (m \Delta \θ).
- Systematic errors: zero balance, account for evaporation; random errors: stir water, be consistent with fluctuating readings.
Apparatus for investigating specific heat capacity

Melting & Boiling
- Fixed points of pure water: melting point = 0 °C, boiling point = 100 °C at atmospheric pressure.
- During a change of state (melting/boiling), temperature remains constant even though energy is still being transferred.
- Energy goes into overcoming intermolecular forces (potential energy), not increasing kinetic energy.
- Boiling occurs at the boiling point throughout the liquid; melting occurs at the melting point as solid becomes liquid.
- Condensation (gas→liquid) and solidification (liquid→solid) also occur at constant temperature as energy is removed.
Evaporation
- Evaporation is a change from liquid to gas that occurs at any temperature and only from the surface.
- More energetic molecules near the surface escape, reducing the average kinetic energy → liquid cools.
- Rate of evaporation increases with: higher temperature, larger surface area, and greater air movement.
- Evaporation vs boiling: evaporation at any temperature, only at surface; boiling at boiling point, throughout liquid.
Think like a scientist
- Use a teacher-provided heating dataset to compare temperature changes for equal masses of different materials given equal energy inputs.
- Comparison: the material heated. Outcome: the temperature rise in degrees Celsius.
- Control: keep the sample mass and energy input constant. Explain why this makes the comparison fairer.
- Evidence: Use a consistent method, repeated observations where appropriate and a table with labelled quantities and units. Keep unexpected results and investigate their cause.
- Safety: Practical activities need teacher supervision and an appropriate risk assessment. Use the provided data or simulation where the investigation specifies it.
- Inquiry task: State a testable question, predict the outcome using the science, then explain how your observations would support or challenge the prediction.
Evaluate the science
- Thermal properties help choose materials for heating and cooling systems.
- Heat absorbed by the container and lost to surroundings must be considered when estimating specific heat capacity.
- Evaluation task: Link your conclusion to evidence, identify a limitation and suggest a specific improvement. Distinguish a measured result from an explanation of its cause.
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1.What are the upper and lower fixed points on a Celsius scale thermometer?
Easy- AThe boiling point of pure water and the freezing point of pure water
- BThe boiling point of saturated salt solution and the freezing point of salt-water
- CThe normal temperature of the human body and the freezing point of salt-water
- DThe boiling point of pure water and absolute zero
2.Which statement best describes a metal experiencing thermal expansion?
Easy- AThe molecules increase in size.
- BThe molecules vibrate more and move further apart.
- CThe molecules expand and become larger.
- DThe molecules decrease in density.
3.When a substance is melting, what happens to its temperature and internal energy?
Medium- ATemperature increases, internal energy increases.
- BTemperature remains constant, internal energy increases.
- CTemperature remains constant, internal energy decreases.
- DTemperature increases, internal energy remains constant.
4.Which of the following is a correct unit for specific heat capacity?
Easy- AJ / kg
- BJ / °C
- CJ / (kg °C)
- DJ kg °C
5.The specific heat capacity of water is 4200 J/(kg °C). How much energy is required to raise the temperature of 2.0 kg of water by 5.0 °C?
Medium- A42000 J
- B21000 J
- C8400 J
- D16800 J
6.In an experiment to determine the specific heat capacity of a metal block, a student uses an immersion heater. Which of the following is the correct equation to calculate the energy supplied to the block?
Easy- AE = IVt
- BE = IRt
- CE = V/It
- DE = I2Vt
7.A student investigates the cooling of water. The results show that the rate of cooling is greater when the water is hotter. Which statement explains this?
Medium- AHotter water has a higher specific heat capacity.
- BHotter water evaporates more quickly, removing more thermal energy.
- CHotter water expands, increasing its surface area.
- DHotter water has a lower density, so it rises and cools faster.
8.Which of the following factors increases the rate of evaporation of a liquid?
Easy- ADecreasing the temperature of the liquid
- BDecreasing the surface area of the liquid
- CIncreasing the movement of air above the liquid
- DIncreasing the humidity of the air above the liquid
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