LAB: Specific Heat Capacity of Earth Materials

Purpose: To observe and report how different materials absorb and release electromagnetic
radiation.

Background Research: The amount of light reflected by different surfaces changes the amount of
heat in the Earth system. It is the measure of the amount of heat energy required to increase the
temperature of a substance by one degree. Specific heat capacity is a physical characteristic
property. Different substances have different specific heats. The amount of energy absorbed or
released by a substance such as water can affect the temperature of areas surrounding it.

Hypothesis:

Safety Notes: - Use caution when handling the lamp; the light bulb will become very hot.

Apparatus: - three 600 mL beakers

- 1 scoopula
- 100 mL dark-coloured soil
- 100 mL light-coloured soil
- 100 mL cold water
- 100 W light bulb
- A lamp or light bulb socket with clamp
- 3 thermometers or temperature probes
- 3 ring stands
- 3 thermometer clamps
- A clock, watch or a stopwatch
- Graph paper
- Coloured pens or pencils

Procedure: 1. Two tables were drawn to record the observations.

2. All the materials were obtained.
3. 100 mL of dark soil was placed in the first beaker.
4. 100 mL of light soil was placed in the second beaker.
5. 100 mL of cold water was place in the third beaker.
6. The beakers were placed on a desk.
7. The lamp was positioned about 30 cm above the beakers.
8. A temperature probe was placed in each beaker.
9. A ring stand and a clamp were used to hold the temperature probe in place and
keep it from touching the glass.
10. The starting temperature in beaker 1 was measured.
11. The lamp was turned on.
12. The temperature of the beaker was measured each minute for ten minutes.
13. The observations were recorded.
14. The lamp was turned off.
15. The temperature was measured each minute for ten minutes
16. Steps 10 to 15 were repeated for each beaker.
17. Observations were recorded.
 Warming Temperature

Materials Starting Temperature Warming Temperature Each Min.

Soil 24° C 1. 24° C

2. 24.5° C
3. 25° C
4. 25° C
5. 25° C
6. 25.5° C
7. 26° C
8. 26° C
9. 26.5° C
10. 27° C

Sand 24° C 1. 24° C

2. 24° C
3. 24.2° C
4. 24.5° C
5. 24.8° C
6. 25° C
7. 25° C
8. 25.5° C
9. 25.5° C
10. 25.8° C

Water 23° C 1. 23° C

2. 23.5° C
3. 23.5° C
4. 24° C
5. 24° C
6. 24.1° C
7. 24.5° C
8. 25° C
9. 25° C
10. 25.2° C

Cooling Temperature
Materials Starting Temperature Cooling Temperature Each Min.

Soil 27° C 1. 27° C

2. 26.5° C
3. 26° C
4. 26° C
5. 25.5° C
6. 25° C
7. 25° C
8. 24.5° C
9. 24.5° C
10. 24° C

Sand 25.8° C 1. 25.5° C

2. 25° C
3. 25° C
4. 25° C
5. 24.8° C
6. 24.5° C
7. 24° C
8. 24° C
9. 24° C
10. 24° C

Water 25.2° C 1. 25° C

2. 25° C
3. 25.5° C
4. 24.5° C
5. 24.2° C
6. 24.2° C
7. 24° C
8. 24° C
9. 24° C
10. 24° C
1. The soil absorbed the most thermal energy in the first ten minutes because it has the
lowest specific heat capacity. That is also why soil lost the most thermal energy in the
last ten minutes.

2. There were many possible sources of error such as placing the light bulb too far away
from the materials which could alter the time it took to heat up materials. If the light bulb
was too close then the changes would have been more dramatic. Also the room
temperature was about 24° C so there was already heat being absorbed by the materials
thus limiting the heat capacity.