Figure 2 shows the equipment a student used to determine the
specific heat capacity of iron.
The iron block the student used has two holes, one for the heater and one for
the thermometer.
OJ
Power supply
Joulemeter
Figure 2
Heater
Thermometer
0:00
Iron block
Stopclock
Before the power supply was switched on, the thermometer was used to measure the
temperature of the iron block.
The student left the thermometer in the iron block for a few minutes before recording
the initial temperature.
Suggest why.
[1 mark]