IB Physics Internal Assessment

Investigation 16 Heating Effect of a Current

Connor Matla
Year 11 Ross

Introduction: For this experiment, were determining the specific

heat capacity of water by using a joulemeter to supply an electric
current to the heating coil for a given amount of time.

Question: Determining the specific heat capacity of water.

Hypothesis: The heat capacity and the temperature of the water will
increase if energy is applying to the water heating it up over a period
of time. Based on the formula E=IVt, where the electric current times
the volts and time taken to find the value of the energy, then by using
the formula Q (the heat energy required in Joules from the power
supply in the experiment) = m (mass of substance in kg) times c (shc
in J kg-1 C-1) times the difference of temperature (temperature
change in C), we can find that with an energy applying to the
substance (water) over time, the specific heat capacity and the
temperature of the substance will likely to increase.

Variables:
Independent
The time
The original temperature of the water
Dependent
The specific heat capacity and the temperature change of the
water, the mass and the temperature change both affects the
energy required to heat up the water.
Controlled
The room temperature
The mass of the water
The swirl of water
The power supply.

Protocol Diagram and Lab

Setup:

The power supply (0-12V) that supplies the

electric current and energy

Thermome
ter
Foam with
heating
coil

Water

Connecting wires

Ammeter (0-5A) and

Voltmeter (0-10V)

The power supply providing 0-12 volts of energy to both ammeter and
votmeter, manipulating by turning the dial to what we wanted, as it
should stay constant, transfering a electric current through the wires to
the heating coil buried in a cup of water that was covered with foam.
The foam was to prevent the lose of mass of the substance but also to
hold the therometer and the heating coil. The heating coil was to
conduct the electric current to the water. All of the energy were
supplied by the power supply. A thermometer was placed to measure
the temporature of the water over time after electric current was
conducted. The independent variables, which were the orignal
temperature of the water and the time taken (30 s each time) for the
heating coil to be conducted by the power supply. We used the
controlled groups of equipments or the independent variables to first
find the temperature change of the water, then to calculate its specific
heat capacity. It is also important to note that a change of room
temperature or lose of mass of the water would also affect the

temperature of the substance causing a random error, whereas the

energy applied to the water also have to be constant.

Equipment:
Piece of foam, a cup of water, heating coil, power supply (0-12V),
joulemeter or ammeter (0-5 A), voltmeter (0-10V) and stopwatch,
variable resistor, connecting wires, weighing device.

Procedure:
1. Fill in water, and measuring its mass.
2. Set up the power supply.
3. Connecting the ammeter and voltmeter to the power supply with
wires and with the heating coil, turning the ammeter and
voltmeter to the dial that we wanted.
4. Place the therometer and the heating coil into the foam and on
top of the cup of water.
5. Measure the temperature of the water and the room
temperature.
6. Turn on the power supply, gently stir the water regular intervals
while recording the temperature of the water for every 30
seconds.
Mass
I (amps)
V (volts)
t (s)
Q (J)
Theta (C)
(kg)
(error of 0.04)
0.138
3.8
7.3
30
832.2
25
0.138

3.84

7.3

60

1681.92

25.25

0.138

3.84

7.3

90

2522.88

25.5

0.138

3.85

7.3

120

3372.6

26

0.138

3.83

7.3

150

4193.85

26.25

0.138

3.82

7.3

180

5019.48

26.5

7. When the temperature is as many degrees above room

temperature as it was below room temporature at the start of the
heating process, turn off the power supply.
8. Record the maximum temperature of the water.

SHC (J/kg
C)
1507.608
96
3046.956
22
4570.434
83
6109.782
09
7597.554
48
9093.260
7

Raw Data Table:

Raw Data (Cold water temperature)

Data Processing:
Overview
The table shows the mass of the substance, which stayed the same all
along. The elecrtict current increased overtime, but suddenly
decreased after 120 s, where the heat capacity and temperature still
increased. The volts stayed the same, but there was a systematic error
with volts. We recorded the results after every 30 s.
Sample Calculation
Were using the equation E=IVt, by finding the value of the current and
volts from the ammter and voltmeter times with the time, we get the
value of the energy. We then apply the value of energy into the
equation c= Q/ m x change of temperature, using the energy which is
Q in the equation dividing the mass of the water times the change of
the temperature of the water to find the specific heat capacity of the
water.
E=IVt
Q=mc x change of t
Therefore, c=Q/ m x theta (change of temperature)

Presentation:
Graphs

Specific Heat Capacity of Water Over Time

10000
9000
8000
7000
6000
SHC ( (J/kg x C)

5000
4000
3000
2000
1000
0

This graph present the specific heat capacity of the water over a period of time. It is
obvious that the heat capacity did increase over time.

Temperature of water over time

20

40

60

80

100

120

140

160

180

200

Time (seconds)

This graph shows the temperature of the cup of water had increased over time, and
this was due to the energy applied by the power supply.

Elecrtic current and volts and the energy over time

I (amps)
V (volts) (error of
0.04)
Q (J)

This graph proves the equation E=IVt, although the electric current and volts stayed
constant but the energy (from power supply) increased when time increases.

Relationship between the heat capacity of the water and the energy applied
10000
9000
8000
7000
6000
Specific Heat Capacity (J/kg x C) 5000
4000
3000
2000
1000
0

We can see here that the specific heat capacity increased when the energy that was
applied to the water increased. Proving the formula c=Q/m times theta.

Conclusion:
The graphs and data that we collected were to an extent applicable,
and the results supported my hypothesis, suggesting that the specific
heat capcity and the temperature of the water did increase after being
applied with energy over time. My first graph first suggested that the
heat capacity increased over time, where my second graph shows that
the temperature had also increased over time. However, in my
hypothesis, I stated that the energy applied to the substance was the
reason why the heat capacity and temperature of the substance
increased. Hence, from my third graph, I first showed the relationship
between the elecrtic current and volts with the energy applied, and the

graph suggested that the energy increased over time while the electric
current and volts stayed constant. The thrid graph was an evident for
the equation E=IVt. I then used the fourth graph to clearly draw the
connections between the specific heat capacity and the energy, where
the heat capacity increased while the energy also increased.

Limitations of Experimental Design:

There werent much limitations to the experiment, although we
couldve used longer time gaps, to probably make the data and graphs
a bit more obvious. However, there couldve been some random errors,
such as a slight change of room temperature that might affect the
temperature of the substance. Therere also a systematic error that I
can think of, when we measured the mass of the water we didnt
consider the mass of the cup, so the mass of the water can be a little
inaccurate. But overall, I think the whole experiment went pretty
smoothly, and it did help me to understand a bit better, of the
equations and the relationships between them.

Suggestions for Improvement:

I would extend the time gaps to maybe a minute, just to make the
effects of energy on the temperature and heat capacity of water a bit
more obvious. I also think we shouldve checked the room
temperature, and maybe turn on the air conditioner to reduce the
chances of a temperature change of the substance.