Question
Figure 2 shows the equipment a student used to determine the specific heat capacity of iron. The iron block the student used has two holes, one for the heater and one for the thermometer. Figure 2 square o square 012 1 Before the power supply was switched on, the thermometer was used to measure the temperature of the iron block. The student left the thermometer in the iron block for a few minutes before recording the initial temperature. Suggest why. [1 mark] __
Answer
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Petunia
Master · Tutor for 5 years
Answer
The student left the thermometer in the iron block for a few minutes before recording the initial temperature to ensure thermal equilibrium. Thus, an accurate temperature of the iron block could be measured.
Explanation
The student leaves the thermometer in the iron block for a few minutes before recording the initial temperature to ensure that thermal equilibrium is attained. Thermal equilibrium means that the temperature of the thermometer and the iron block are the same. This is necessary to measure the exact temperature of the iron block. If the thermometer was just inserted and the reading was taken immediately, the thermometer, having been in a different ambient temperature prior to being inserted into the iron block, would not have fully adjusted (or equilibrated) to the block's temperature. This would lead to an inaccurate or misleading temperature reading. Hence, time is given for both thermometer and iron block to attain the same temperature before measuring, guarantying the accuracy of the reading.