Name:________________________ Period:_____
Worksheet- Introduction to Specific Heat Capacities
Heating substances in the sun: The following table shows the temperature after 10.0 g of 4 different
substances have been in direct sunlight for up to 60 minutes.
Time (minutes)
Air (° C)
Water (° C)
Sand (° C)
Metal (° C)
O (initial)
15.0 min
30.0 min
25°C
28.9°C
32.5°C
25°C
26.2°C
27.5°C
25°C
30°C
35°C
25°C
35°C
45°C
45.0 min
60.0 min
36.2°C
40°C
28.8°C
30°C
40°C
45°C
55°C
65°C
Step 1: Create a line graph for each substance on graph below. Label the substances.
Step 2: Answer questions
1. Order the substances based
on the time required to heat
them from :
slowest
fastest
2. Which do you think will
cool the fastest?
Explain
3.
When you boil water in a pot on the stove, which heats faster, the metal or the water? Explain.
4.
Why do you think different substances heat up and cool down at different rates?
***Specific heat capacity = the amount of heat needed to raise the temperature of 1 g of a
substance by 1 degree. ***
5.
Based on the definition above, which of the 4 substances do you think has:
a) the highest specific heat capacity?
b) the lowest heat capacity?
6.
Here are the heat capacities of the four substances: 4.18 J/g °c, 1.00 J/g °c, 0.80 J/g °c,
& 0.60 J/g °c. Match & then label each substance with its specific heat capacity on the graph.
7.
If something has a high specific heat capacity will it take a lot of heat or a little heat to change its
temperature? Explain. (careful! Use the definition, your graph, and the data from #6)
8.
Assuming they both start at the same temperature, which will heat up faster, a swimming pool or a bath tub?
Explain your thinking.