UNIVERSITY OF LIBERAL ARTS
Course Code: PHY1102
Course Title: Physics 1 Lab
Lab Report 02
Experiment No: 01
Experiment Name: Determination of the value of J, the mechanical equivalent of heat,
by electrical method
Submitted to:
Nishat Anjum
Lecturer
Submitted by:
Name: Md. Eakramul Karim Tarik ID: 2310140133
Department of
CSE Summer’23
Date of Submission:
June 20, 2023
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Table of Contents
TOPICS Page No.
Title Page 1
Table of Content 2
1. OBJECTIVE 3
2. THEORY 3-4
3. APPARATUS 4
4. PROCEDURE 5-6
5. DATA COLLECTION 6-8
6. RESULT 8
7. DISCUSSIONS 8
8. CAUTIONS 9
9. CONCLUSIONS 9-10
10. REFERENCES 10
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OBJECTIVE:
The goal of the experiment is to measure the amount of work required to raise
the temperature of a substance by a certain amount. By comparing the amount of
work done to the amount of heat absorbed by the substance, the experiment aims
to calculate the value of J. The purpose of the lab is to gain a better
understanding of the relationship between heat and work, and the ability to
determine the mechanical equivalent of heat through electrical methods. To do
this, we will measure the amount of work in Joules required to produce a calorie
of heat.
THEORY:
The mechanical equivalent of heat J is the number of joules of electrical energy
required to generate one calorie of heat.
If E volt being the potential difference across a conducting coil and i ampere
expended in the coil is 𝐸𝑖𝑡. Hence, if this energy is converted into H calories
being the current flowing through the coil for t seconds, then electrical energy
of heat we shall have,
𝐸𝑖𝑡
𝐽 =
𝐾
Joules per calorie.................(1)
temperature of the calorimeter with its content will rise from 𝜃1℃ to 𝜃2℃.
If the heat thus developed is measured by means of a calorimeter, then the
𝐻 = (𝑚𝑆 + 𝑤) 𝑥 (𝜃1 − 𝜃2) ………(2)
Hence, the heat taken up by the calorimeter and its contents is given by,
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𝑚 = mass of the liquid in the calorimeter
Where,
𝑆 = specific heat of the liquid
𝑤 = water equivalent of the calorimeter and the
stirrer. From equation (1) and (2) we get,
𝐽 =(𝑚𝑆+𝑤) 𝑥 (𝜃1− Joules per calorie
𝐸𝑖𝑡
𝜃2)
=
𝐸𝑖𝑡
× 107 ergs per calorie...................(3)
(𝑚𝑆+𝑤) 𝑥 (𝜃1−
𝜃2)
APPARATUS:
Thermometer
Voltmeter
Ammeter
Calorimeter (resistance heater, cover, jacket, etc)
Power supply
Connecting Wires
Water
Stopwatch
Scale
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PROCEDURE:
1. Connections were made as shown in the figure 1. The calorimeter
was cleaned and it was weighted. Some liquid (water) was poured in
the calorimeter and again it was weighted. Hence the mass of liquid
was determined.
2. The heating coil was put in the calorimeter which just completely should be
dipped in the liquid. A thermometer was inserted in the calorimeter with
the bulb near the middle region of water but never the coil was touched.
The calorimeter was placed inside a double walled chamber.
3. The circuit was closed temporarily to adjust the current of about 2
amperes. Then the stop watch was started and the current was simulated
and the liquid was gone on stirring. The current voltage and temperature
were recorded at an interval of every time.
4. When the temperature has been risen about 𝜃 °C, the current was stopped,
time was noted simultaneously for which the current flowed but the stop
watch was allowed to run on. The temperature will be further risen. The
maximum rise of temperature 𝜃2 °C. The temperature was recorded and the
time was noted from the beginning of starting the stop watch to the
liquid was gone on stirring as before.
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5. Then the calorimeter was allowed to go through the same length of time as
it has been rising in temperature and again the temperature was noted. The
actual loss in temperature, by radiation during the heating process was half
temperature 𝜃2 to get the maximum temperature of the liquid.
of this fall in temperature. This loss was added to the observed maximum
DATA COLLECTION:
1) Recording the weights and other constants,
Mass of calorimeter, N1 = 35.14 g
Mass of calorimeter + water, N2 = 119.54 g
Specific heat of the given liquid, 𝑆 = 1 calorie/gram
Mass of the liquid, M= N2−N1=(119.54-35.14)= 84.4g
Initial temperature of the calorimeter + its contents, 𝜃1= 29.3℃
℃
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2) Current-Voltage record:
No. of obs. Time (minutes) Current i Voltage E Temperature ℃
(amps) (volts)
1 0 0 0 29.3
2 2 1.64 1.22 29.5
3 4 1.65 1.56 29.8
4 6 1.63 1.58 30.0
5 8 1.65 1.44 30.2
6 10 1.66 1.48 30.4
7 12 1.67 1.51 30.7
8 14 1.60 1.64 31.2
9 16 1.61 1.66 31.3
10 18 1.63 1.67 31.4
11 20 1.83 1.63 32.5
12 22 1.84 1.68 32.0(maximum)
13 24 0 0 31.0
14 28 0 0 31.9
15 42 0 0 31.8
16 56 0 0 29.1
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Time during which the current is passed, t =(time when current is stopped) x 60 =(24 x 60) = 1440s
Mean current during the interval t, i = 1.674amp
Mean voltage during the interval t, E = 1.552V
Rise of the temperature = (Maximum temperature-initial steady temperature) = (32 – 29.3) = 2.7℃
(𝑚𝑎𝑥𝑖𝑚𝑢𝑚 𝑡𝑒𝑚𝑝𝑒𝑟𝑎𝑡𝑢𝑟𝑒−𝑙𝑜𝑤𝑒𝑠𝑡 𝑡𝑒𝑚𝑝𝑒𝑟𝑎𝑡𝑢𝑟𝑒 𝑎𝑓𝑡𝑒𝑟 𝑐𝑜𝑜𝑙𝑖𝑛𝑔)
(32 – 29.1)
Radiation correction = = 1.45℃
2 2
=
Corrected rise of temperature = (rise of temperature + radiation correction) = (2.7+1.45) = 4.15℃
Heat produced, H = (MwSw∇ θ + McSc∇ θ )
= (84.4 × 1× 4.15) + (35.14 × 0.09 × 4.15)
= 363.39 calories
Work done electrically W = Eit = (1.674 × 1.552 × 1440) = 3741.19 Joules
3741.19
J𝑑𝑜𝑛𝑒
=
𝑤𝑜𝑟𝑘 =𝑊 = = 10.3 Joules/calorie
𝐻𝑒𝑎𝑡 𝑃𝑟𝑜𝑑𝑢𝑐𝑒𝑑 𝐻 363.39
RESULT:
The mechanical equivalent of heat J = 10.3 J/Cal
DISCUSSIONS:
1) Before taking any measurements, it is important to check the ammeter
and voltmeter for zero error.
2) To ensure accuracy, the mean current and voltage should be taken, as
the resistance of the coil may change during heating and affect the current
and voltage readings.
3) If a battery is being used as the power source, care should be taken not
to exceed the maximum allowed current.
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CAUTIONS:
1) Care should be taken when taking readings with the apparatus to
ensure accuracy.
2) To obtain reliable results, precautions should be taken to keep the current in
the circuit steady.
3) Different value should be taken with caution.
4) All connections should be tight.
CONCLUSIONS:
In our lab, we used electricity as a source of energy to convert it into heat by
using a resistance heater. It works by using a coil of wire that acts as a resistor,
which slows down the flow of electrons through a conductor, thus reducing the
voltage or potential energy across it. This conversion of electrical energy into
heat is possible because the element in the resistor must not conduct perfectly.
The energy that is not destroyed is dissipated as heat from the resistor.
To determine the mechanical equivalent of heat, we measured the temperature of
a known mass of water and then put the heater in the water for a specific period
of time. We recorded the current flowing through the heater at set intervals to get
an average reading. Additionally, we measured the voltage across the heater and
the final temperature of the water to determine the work done during that period.
From these measurements, we were able to derive our experimental value in
Joules of work per calorie of heat, similar to what Joule did with his experiment
but using electrical energy instead of mechanical energy.
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Moreover, by using this experiment, we can also measure the specific heat of the
liquid, provided that the value of the mechanical equivalent of heat is known. Some
possible sources of error in our experiment could be imprecision in the
instruments used, such as a touchy rheostat or an ammeter that is not in perfect
calibration. Other conditions such as poor connections of cables or clips could
also contribute to imprecise readings.
REFERENCES:
Practical Physics
By Dr. Giasuddin Ahmad and Md. Shahabuddin
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