SCIENCE 100 Calorimetry Lab

Name: _____________Michaela Spinazze____________ Date: ________________________



Student Exploration: Calorimetry Lab

Vocabulary: calorie, calorimeter, joule, specific heat capacity


Prior Knowledge Questions (Do these BEFORE using the Gizmo.)

1. The Latin word calor means “heat,” and meter comes from the Greek word meaning “to

measure.” What do you think a calorimeter does? I think a calorimeter measures how much

heat is given off



2. Where have you heard the word calorie before? What do you think a calorie is? I have
heard the word calorie and I think a calorie is a unit of heat the body produces.


Gizmo Warm-up
A calorimeter is an insulated container filled with a liquid,
usually water. When a hot object is placed in the calorimeter,
heat energy is transferred from the object to the water and the
water heats up.

Calorimeters can be used to find a substance’s specific heat
capacity. You will use the Calorimetry Lab Gizmo™ to
determine the specific heat capacities of various substances.

1. On the SIMULATION pane, select Copper. Use the slider to set its Mass to 200 g. Set the
Water mass to 200 g. Check that the Water temp is set to 30.0 °C and the copper’s Temp
is 90 °C. Select the GRAPH tab, and click Play ( ).

A. What was the Final temperature of the copper and the water? 34.96
degrees Celsius

B. How much did the temperature of the copper change? 55.04 degrees
Celsius

C. How much did the temperature of the water change? 4.96 degrees
Celsius


2. Specific heat capacity can be described as a substance’s resistance to temperature
changes. Which substance has a greater specific heat capacity, copper or water? Explain.

, Water has a higher specific heat capacity because it changed more than copper in its
temperature.