Figure 4 shows a small piece of copper about 3 cm high - Edexcel - GCSE Physics - Question 2 - 2020 - Paper 1

To calculate the density of copper, use the formula:

$ext{density} = \frac{\text{mass}}{\text{volume}}$

Substituting the given values:

$\text{density} = \frac{0.058 \text{ kg}}{6.5 \times 10^{-6} \text{ m}^3}$

After calculating, the density of copper is approximately 8.9 \times 10^3 \text{ kg/m}^3.

To calculate the specific heat capacity of copper, we can rearrange the equation:

$\Delta Q = m \times c \times \Delta \theta$

Rearranging gives us:

$c = \frac{\Delta Q}{m \times \Delta \theta}$

Substituting the known values:

• Thermal energy gained by the water, (\Delta Q = 1050 , \text{J})
• Mass of copper, (m = 0.058 , \text{kg})
• Change in temperature, (\Delta \theta = 100 \text{°C} - 22 \text{°C} = 78 \text{°C})

Now plug the values into the equation:

$c = \frac{1050}{0.058 \times 78}$

Calculating this gives a specific heat capacity of approximately 230 , \text{J/kg °C}.

1. Reduce heat loss from water: The student could insulate the beaker or cover it to minimize heat loss to the environment during the experiment.
2. Use more accurate measuring equipment: The experiment could be improved by using more precise thermometers or balances to ensure more accurate temperature and mass measurements.