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CAIE IGCSE Physics Specific Heat Capacity Experiments

Practise planning solid or liquid specific heat experiments using mass, temperature change and electrical energy, with insulation and heat-loss evaluation.

Syllabus
2026–2028
Course
Physics 0625

Exam points

  • measure mass, initial and final temperature, heater power and heating time
  • calculate supplied electrical energy with Pt or VIt and then use c = E/(mΔT)
  • insulate the sample and explain how transfer to surroundings biases the calculated value

2.2.2.4—Experiments to measure the specific question 1

[Maximum number: 4]

A student is supplied with a small block of iron, a thermometer and an electrical heater of power P.

There are two holes drilled in the iron block. The heater fits tightly into one hole and the student places the thermometer into the other hole.

Fig. 5.1 shows the equipment.

Fig. 5.1

Fig. 5.1

The student uses this equipment when determining the specific heat capacity of iron.
State:
- the other equipment the student will need
- the measurements the student needs to take
- the equation used when calculating the value of the specific heat capacity of iron.

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