The specific heat capacity of a solid is the energy required to raise the temperature of 1 kg of that solid by 1 degree Celsius. In this video I demonstrate a simple experiment to determine the specific heat capacity of water, using a simple electric heater. The value obtained is much greater that the actual value: This will always generally be the case, as much of the heat that is added to the water is lost to the surroundings. Points to consider: What steps were taken to reduce heat loss? How could the experiment be improved to further reduce heat loss?