Use the calculation of specific heat for your metal as an example and determine the effect on specific heat if the sample temperature is changed. Does this small loss in heat significantly (>5%) affect your value for the specific heat of the metal?
How would I solve this? Can you please provide an example?
It makes not much to me either.
I assume you were calculating specific heat capacity, not specific heat.
specific heat is based on a known object, known mass. It is how much heat it has at some temperature. Of course, if temperature changes, the heat content changes. Surely your teacher was not thinking of this.
The other possibility, is your teacher meant to ask something else, I know not what. Did you calculate specific heat, or specific heat capacity of the metal? Honestly, I do not know what he meant.
To determine the effect on specific heat when the sample temperature changes, you can use the formula:
Q = mcΔT
Where:
Q represents the heat absorbed or released by the sample,
m is the mass of the sample,
c is the specific heat of the metal, and
ΔT is the change in temperature.
To solve this problem, you would need the following information:
1. The mass of the metal sample (m)
2. The specific heat of the metal (c)
3. The initial temperature of the metal (T1)
4. The final temperature of the metal (T2)
Example:
Let's say you have a metal sample with a mass of 100 grams, and the specific heat of this metal is 0.5 J/g°C. The initial temperature of the sample is 25°C, and it undergoes a temperature change of 10°C.
Step 1: Calculate the heat absorbed or released by the sample (Q):
Q = mcΔT
Q = (100 g) * (0.5 J/g°C) * (10°C)
Q = 500 J
Step 2: Calculate the percentage change in specific heat:
Δc = (Q / mc) * 100%
Δc = (500 J / (100 g * 0.5 J/g°C)) * 100%
Δc = 100%
In this example, the change in specific heat is 100%, which is greater than 5%, indicating a significant loss in heat. This suggests that the change in sample temperature has a substantial effect on the specific heat value.