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Specific Heat Capacity and Latent Heat Questions - GCSE standard

Q18.

Kayjay investigated the insulating properties of different materials. The diagram shows some of the equipment used by her.

This is the method she used:

1. Wrap insulating material around the can.

2. Put a fixed volume of boiling water in the can.

3. Place the lid on the top of the can.

4. Measure the time taken for the temperature of the water to decrease by a fixed amount.

5. Repeat steps 1–4 using the same thickness of different insulating materials.

(a) Identify the independent variable and the dependent variable in this investigation.

[2 marks]

(b) Kayjay used two different types of thermometer to measure the temperature changes. The diagram below shows a reading on each thermometer.

(i) What is the resolution of thermometer B?

[1 mark]

(ii) Thermometer A is more likely to be misread. Give one reason why.

[1 mark]

(c) For one type of insulating material, the temperature of the water decreased from 85.0 °C to 65.0 °C. The energy transferred from the water was 10.5 kJ. Given that the specific heat capacity of water is 4200 J/kg °C, calculate the mass of water in the can.

[3 marks]

(d) The table below shows the results for two insulating materials.

Material
Time for temperature to decrease by 20 °C /seconds
X
450
Y
745

 

Explain how these results can be used to compare the thermal conductivity of the two materials.

[2 marks]

(9 marks total)