Date | November 2018 | Marks available | 1 | Reference code | 18N.3.SL.TZ0.2 |
Level | Standard level | Paper | Paper 3 | Time zone | 0 - no time zone |
Command term | Outline | Question number | 2 | Adapted from | N/A |
Question
In an experiment to measure the specific latent heat of vaporization of water Lv, a student uses an electric heater to boil water. A mass m of water vaporizes during time t. Lv may be calculated using the relation
where V is the voltage applied to the heater and I the current through it.
Outline why, during the experiment, V and I should be kept constant.
Outline whether the value of Lv calculated in this experiment is expected to be larger or smaller than the actual value.
A student suggests that to get a more accurate value of Lv the experiment should be performed twice using different heating rates. With voltage and current V1, I1 the mass of water that vaporized in time t is m1. With voltage and current V2, I2 the mass of water that vaporized in time t is m2. The student now uses the expression
to calculate Lv. Suggest, by reference to heat losses, why this is an improvement.
Markscheme
to provide a constant heating rate / power
OR
to have m proportional to t ✔
due to heat losses «VIt is larger than heat into liquid» ✔
Lv calculated will be larger ✔
heat losses will be similar / the same for both experiments
OR
heat loss presents systematic error ✔
taking the difference cancels/eliminates the effect of these losses
OR
use a graph to eliminate the effect ✔