A bomb calorimeter is used to measure the energy content of a food sample - Edexcel - GCSE Biology - Question 1 - 2023 - Paper 1
Question 1
A bomb calorimeter is used to measure the energy content of a food sample. Figure 1 shows a bomb calorimeter.
The mass of the food sample is measured at the start. ... show full transcript
Worked Solution & Example Answer:A bomb calorimeter is used to measure the energy content of a food sample - Edexcel - GCSE Biology - Question 1 - 2023 - Paper 1
Step 1
The energy content of the biscuit.
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Answer
To calculate the energy content of the biscuit, we can use the following equation:
ext{energy content (J/g)} = rac{ ext{mass of water (g)} imes ext{temperature rise (°C)} imes 4.2 }{ ext{mass of food (g)} }
A different biscuit gave a greater temperature rise.
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Answer
One reason why the different biscuit gave a greater temperature rise could be that it contains more energy-dense ingredients, leading to a higher release of energy when combusted.
Step 3
Explain why a bomb calorimeter gives a more accurate value.
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A bomb calorimeter provides a more accurate measurement of energy content because it minimizes heat loss to the surroundings during the combustion process, ensures complete combustion of the food sample, and accurately measures temperature changes in a controlled environment. This level of precision is essential for reliable energy content measurement, unlike simpler equipment which may allow for external heat exchange and incomplete combustion.