Lesson Plan

• Describe the concept of internal energy and its relationship to temperature.
• Explain specific heat capacity and how it links mass, temperature change, and energy.
• Apply the formula ΔU = mcΔT to calculate the change in internal energy for a given object.
• Analyse how work done by or on the system would modify the energy relationship.
• Evaluate example calculations and interpret the physical meaning of the results.

• Projector or interactive whiteboard
• PowerPoint slides with equations and diagram
• Worksheet containing the example problem and conceptual questions
• Scientific calculators (or online calculator)
• Handout of specific heat capacities table
• Thermometer/temperature sensor for a brief demo

Begin with a quick “think‑pair‑share” asking why heating a solid feels different from moving it. Connect students’ prior knowledge of temperature as a measure of kinetic energy to the new idea of internal energy. State that by the end of the lesson they will be able to predict and calculate how much internal energy changes when an object’s temperature rises.

1. Do‑now (5'): Students answer a short conceptual question on internal energy; teacher collects responses for a quick check.
2. Mini‑lecture (10'): Review definitions (internal energy, temperature, specific heat) and derive ΔU = mcΔT on the board.
3. Guided example (10'): Walk through the aluminium block calculation; students repeat the steps in pairs.
4. Interactive practice (10'): Using the specific‑heat table, students solve a new problem (e.g., heating a water sample) and discuss results.
5. Conceptual discussion (5'): Explore how the relationship changes if work is done and why gases have higher specific heats.
6. Exit ticket (5'): Each student writes one sentence summarising the link between temperature rise and internal energy.

Recap the key formula ΔU = mcΔT and its physical meaning, highlighting how the material’s specific heat controls energy storage. Collect exit tickets to gauge understanding, and assign homework: complete the worksheet’s additional problems and research one real‑world application of specific heat capacity.