# A student investigates how the specific heat capacity of two different metals, aluminium and copper, can be determined experimentally. She heats equal masses of each metal using identical immersion heaters for the same length of time and records the temperature change of each metal. Aluminium shows a much larger temperature change than copper. Explain what the student should do to make the experiment a fair test, and explain why aluminium shows a larger temperature change than copper when the same amount of energy is supplied to equal masses of both metals.

> OCR A-Level Physics A (H556) — 1.1 Practical skills assessed · Explain · 5 marks

> Two metal blocks of equal mass are each fitted with an immersion heater and a thermometer. Both heaters are connected to the same power supply and switched on for exactly five minutes. The student records the starting and final temperature of each block.

## Mark scheme (5 marks)

1. The student must ensure the same mass of each metal is used
2. The student must supply the same amount of energy to each metal / heaters must be run for the same time at the same power
3. Specific heat capacity is the energy needed to raise the temperature of one kilogram of a substance by one degree Celsius
4. Aluminium has a higher specific heat capacity than copper
5. Because the same energy is shared between equal masses, a higher specific heat capacity means less temperature change, so aluminium (with higher specific heat capacity) shows a larger temperature rise only if this point is correctly linked — accept: copper has a lower specific heat capacity so for the same energy input to the same mass, copper shows a smaller temperature change / aluminium requires more energy per °C rise so the same energy input produces a larger temperature change in aluminium compared to copper

## Key terms

- [specific heat capacity](https://www.gradenine.co.uk/glossary/specific-heat-capacity)
- [temperature change](https://www.gradenine.co.uk/glossary/temperature-change)
- [fair test](https://www.gradenine.co.uk/glossary/fair-test)
- [energy](https://www.gradenine.co.uk/glossary/energy)
- [mass](https://www.gradenine.co.uk/glossary/mass)

## Related

- [Revision notes for OCR A-Level Physics A (H556)](https://www.gradenine.co.uk/learn)
- [How to answer "Explain" questions](https://www.gradenine.co.uk/tools/command-word-cheatsheet)
- [Practice this with AI marking (free)](https://www.gradenine.co.uk/start)

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Source: [GradeNine](https://www.gradenine.co.uk/q/a-student-investigates-how-the-specific-2ee362e1) · Published by Druglandscape Ltd.