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Would you expect the value of the specific latent heat of fusion
of ice obtained in the experiment to be higher than, equal to,
or lower than the accepted value? Explain briefly.
The value obtained is higher than the accepted value. This is
because some energy supplied by the heater is lost to the
surroundings. The actual energy absorbed by the ice should
be lesser.
After switching off the heater, the cups are not removed until
the drip rates become steady. Why?
This is to allow time for the energy from the heater to be
conducted to the ice to melt it (water and ice are poor
conductors of heat).
Calculated result
higher / lower than
accepted value?
Higher
Higher
Higher
Lower
Although water may spill out from the beaker, the main source
of error is due to the heat lost to the surroundings. As the
energy supplied is always greater than the energy absorbed,
the calculated value would be greater than the accepted value.
Suggest a method to improve the accuracy of the experiment.