CSEC Physics · May/June 2017 · Paper 2 · Question 5(b)(ii)

The following data were obtained in an experiment using an immersion heater to determine the specific latent heat of vaporization of water. Mass of can and water at start of boiling m1 = 0.28 kg, Mass of can and water at end of boiling m2 = 0.26 kg, Power of heater = 150 W, Time of heating = 5 minutes.

The coil of the immersion heater was NOT completely submerged. Explain how this would have affected the value for the specific latent heat of vaporization obtained in (b) (i) on page 17.