What oil is the better choice for energy efficiency? using heat capacity formula

Yes, it's a bit weird. Presumably, given the oils/lard are all roughly the same density, then the same volume = mass of oil/lard will be used for the actual frying, and so the specific heat capacity will be most relevant in determining the total amount of heat energy stored. However, if the masses of the oils/lard are different, then clearly the absolute heat capacity is most relevant.

The question is pretty straightforward. Here:






It asks for the specific heat capacity.

My problem with this question is that the mass of the oils is different for each product, which suggests unfair results.

I don't know how much the mass will affect the results. Should I consider this when determining the best oil to use?

It could be that they’ve set up the experiment so the same volume of each oil used each time, though the densities are not given and I think they just picked different masses for each oil for the sake of making it harder to deduce the best oil without calculation and this resulted in the error in the question.
I’d say assume a simplistic model where the heater is 100% efficient and there is no evaporation of the oil so Q = Pt = mcΔθ and proceed from there. Don’t worry about the experiment being unfair or the question being dodgy.

Is there anything wrong, doing the temperate in kelvin as that’s the units recommended as standard.
Well, in my explanation, I chose lard but I used heat capacity due to them not clarifying about the densities of the oil, however I calculated based on the assumption that they were the same and offered two different solutions.
Lard came out the better option in both scenarios.

The temperature difference in kelvins will be the same as the temperature difference in degrees, so you can use either. I agree that the change in the thermodynamic temperature is probably better though as it is more standard.
I think your approach was sensible. Let's wait and see what the course providers have to say about your answer.

If I’m honest, In my other assignments there were errors in questions and so I had to make assumptions on parts and report errors in their context and they were happy that I pointed these things out as they said it showed deep understanding. I also provided references in these cases. I’ve received distinction in all assignments.

I see. Are these the same people who gave you those dodgy organic chemistry questions from a while back? lol
Congratulations on the excellent results so far and the additional reading around the subject.