Specific Heat Capacity

AQA Combined Science · Required Practical · 6-Marker Builder

Build the setup

Click each step on the right to see what happens. The diagram builds up as you go.

Start Click step 1 on the right to begin.
Step 0 / 6

The six stages

What happens next?

The steps are scrambled. Click the one that comes next — if you're right, the diagram updates and the step turns green. Wrong picks flash red.

Empty bench Pick the first step on the right.
Placed: 0 / 6

Pick the next step

Equipment quiz

Five questions on the apparatus. One attempt each.

Equipment quiz0 / 5 correct

Method quiz

Six questions on the steps, the science and the calculation.

Method quiz0 / 6 correct

Fix the bad 6-marker

Two bad answers from struggling Year 9 pupils. Round 1: the mistakes are already underlined — click each one to learn what's wrong. Round 2: no underlines. You spot them, then check.

Round 1 · Click each underlined mistake

Six things are wrong with this answer. Each one is underlined in red. Click each underlined phrase to see the issue and what the pupil should have written instead.

0 / 6 mistakes reviewed

Click any red underlined phrase above to see why it's wrong.

Round 2 · Find the mistakes yourself

A different bad answer. Nothing is underlined this time. Click on the phrases you think are wrong, then hit Check my answers. Some phrases are actually fine — don't click those.

Write the 6-marker

Question: Describe a method to measure the specific heat capacity of a metal block. (6 marks)

Build your answer one mark at a time. Each row is worth roughly one mark — use the sentence starter to get going.

Mark 1 · Equipment"To carry out this experiment I would use..."
Mark 2 · Mass"First, I would use..."
Mark 3 · Set-up"Then I would place..."
Mark 4 · Starting temperature"I would record..."
Mark 5 · Heating"Next, I would switch on..."
Mark 6 · Final temp & calculation"Finally, I would..."
Reveal a model answer (only after you've tried!)

To carry out this experiment I would use a balance, the metal block, an immersion heater, a thermometer, a joulemeter, insulation and a power supply. First, I would use the balance to measure the mass (m) of the block in kilograms. I would then place the immersion heater into the larger hole and the thermometer into the smaller hole, and wrap the block in insulation to reduce heat loss to the surroundings. I would record the starting temperature of the block. Next, I would switch on the power supply and heat the block for ten minutes, recording the total energy transferred (E) shown on the joulemeter. After switching off, I would record the highest temperature reached and calculate the temperature change Δθ. Finally, I would calculate the specific heat capacity using c = E ÷ (m × Δθ).