Question

Bomb calorimetry is best for determining heat values. Because we cannot have a bomb calorimeter for every pair of students, we use what is readily avaliable. Why would two styrofoam cups be an economical way of determining these heat values and what is the of the major pitfalls of using this system?.

Answer 1

Using styrofoam cups is obviously a lot cheaper than using precise equipment, but it can still do the same job. However, remember that styrofoam cups are not exact and leave a lot of room for error.

The answer to the second part is: Calibration of Setup

Explanation: You can use these cups because their walls are insulated which prevents the transfer of heat between the system and its surroundings.