Determination of

the Specific
Heat of Nickel
By Lucy Culleton
200271605

Abstract

This experiment aims to determine the value of the specific heat capacity of
nickel along with its uncertainty. This will be achieved by electrically heating a
length of nickel wire at various set currents and interpreting the data collected via
use of graph plotter software and thermodynamic equations.

The accepted value for the specific heat of nickel is 26.07 Jmol-1K-1

The value obtained in the experiment was 38 .97 ± 3.42 Jmol K

-1 -1

Introduction
dU
C= ……………………………..
The following theory is used in the dT
analysis of the experimental results, (1)
the final equations are found from
(Where U is the mean energy and is given by
using the ideal gas laws and heat U=NA3KBT)
capacity equations.

For a solid, specific heat capacity C Differentiating 3RT with respect to T

is given by gives 3R.
In terms of degrees of freedom:
 s This can be used to describe the
C= nR …………………………..(2)
2 cooling curve as there is no heat
input. Solving equation (2) via
(Where s is the number of degrees of freedom and n is
the number of moles) integration, it can be found that

 −t 
 
There are 6 degrees of freedom in θ = θ Max e τ  ………………………...
solids ∴in 1 mole C=3R. (5)

Plotting two graphs from the

experimental results will utilise
equation (5) and allow a value for C
to be obtained.
Nickel obays the Dulong-petit law
and its molar specific heat capacity • A graph of ln(T) against t will
is very close to 3R. yield a value for τ . And a
(CNicke l= 26.07 , 3R = 24.942) value for A.
−1 I 2R
The heating and cooling of nickel (where τ = gradient , A= )
gradient
can be described in the following
equation: t 
• A graph of T against e − τ  will
dθ 1  dQ dQ  yield a value for A
=  −  (3)
dt mC  dt Heatinput dt Heatlosses 
I 2R
(Where C is the specific heat of Nickle and m is the (where A = )
mass per unit length of the wire) int ercept

This can be used in the equation

When the current supplied to the
wire is zero this becomes: τA
C=
m
dθ 1  dQ 
= −  …………...(4)
dt mC  dt Heatlosses  And therefore the value of the
specific heat of nickel can be
obtained.

Method

Figure 1 shows the equipment setup used for conducting the experiment.

A length of wire is measured and coiled about itself so it can fit comfortably into a
conical flask without being in contact with itself or the sides of the flask. The ends
of the wire are connected to a variable power supply. The flask is partially
submerged in ice and a vacuum is created inside via use of a pump. There is a
soldered connection that connects the wire sealed in the flask to a data logger,
allowing the collection of results.

The mass per unit length and the resistance per unit length of the wire is
obtained before setup. (Resistance per unit length is measured using the 4 probe
technique as it is more accurate than using 2 probes)

A current is chosen (in the range of 1 - 3.5A) and the resulting output through the
thermocouple is recorded onto the data logger. Each reading should take approx.
2 minutes to complete. And the wire is left to cool down between readings.

This is repeated for 3 different current values so an average can be obtained.

Figure 1: equipment setup

thermocouple
 Vacuum flask
with no air inside

Ice

Data logger

Nickel wire

Farnell power supply

On the following pages are the results obtained in graph form.

From analysis of the graphs, C was found to be 38 .97 ± 3.42 Jmol-1K-1.

Conclusion

The final value of cnickel obtained from the experimentation was 1.49 times larger
than the accepted value of 26.07 Jmol-1K-1. The main errors accountable for this
came from the 1amp results, the most likely reasons for these errors being: an
incomplete vacuum or the nickel wire being in contact with the glass vessel.

-Systematic errors:
• Incomplete vacuum within the flask
• Not allowing enough time for the wire temperature to reach equilibrium
with the flask before taking the next reading.
• When the current was set at 3amps or higher, the soldered connection
between the thermocouple and the nickel wire melted.

Suggested improvements for further experimentation

Improvements include:
• Allowing longer for the wire to reach a cooler temperature before starting
the next reading.
• More accurate measurement of wire length (no kinks in wire).
• More results from within the same current range would minimise
averaging errors.

References
• National institute of standards and technology (NIST) website, for the
value of the specific heat capacity of nickel.
• The university of Leeds, Department of Physics and Astronomy module
PHYS1110 Laboratory handbook
• Newscientist.com