Specific Heat Model

Basic Specific Heat Model

A simple model which will allow students to see how the specific heat and /or mass of a sample affects the rate of temperature change for that sample. Students run several different samples on a comparison graph. The graph below compares water (bottom line) to lead (top line) and another substance with a specific heat of about 2. This model simply allows the students to see that all things being equal (amount of heat transferred, mass, etc), the substance with the larger specific heat will experience the smallest temperature change.

THE MODEL

Vensim Version
Vensim PLE Software
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the model
Specific Heat
Vensim
STELLA Version
isee Player Software

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Specific Heat
STELLA PC

Specific Heat
STELLA Mac

[Diagram Level | Equations Level | Graphs ]

Temp_Substance(t) = Temp_Substance(t - dt) + (Temp_change) * dt INIT Temp_Substance = 20 Temp_change = Amt_heat_per_sec/(Mass*Specific_Heat) Amt_heat_per_sec = 1 Mass = 1 Specific_Heat = .13

Time Specs
Range: 0 to 12, dT = .25, Integration Method = Euler's Method