Question

In a specific heat experiment where the purpose is to determine the specific heat of an unknown metal by using the principle of thermal equilibrium, what are some sources of error and considering the sources of error, would the real specific heat of the metal be the same, larger or smaller than the experimental result?

Answer 1

Some sources of error are:

1. Radiation loss cannot be completely eliminated.

2. Heat loss that take place during the short period while transferring hot solid into calorimeter cannot be accounted for.

3. Though mercury in thermometer bulb has low specific heat, it absorbs some heat.

4. There may be some error in the measurement of mass and temperature.

The real value may be larger or smaller or same(there is a very little chance of being the same) than the experimental value.

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