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6. THERMAL CONDUCTIVITY OF A GOOD CONDUCTOR –
SEARLE’S METHOD
6.1 AIM
To determine the thermal conductivity of a metal using Searle’s method.
6.2 PRINCIPLE
Searle’s apparatus consists of a long, uniform metal bar heated at one end while the other end
is kept cool by flowing water. Thermometers are fixed at two points, separated by a distance of
d along the bar to measure the temperature difference between them. The setup helps to study
steady-state heat conduction through the bar.
Heat is transferred through the metal bar by conduction, moving from the hotter end to the
cooler end. The heat flow per second is proportional to the cross-sectional area (A) of the bar
and the temperature gradient (dT/dx) along its length, described by the equation
𝑸𝒊𝒏 𝒅𝑻
= 𝒌𝑨 (1)
𝒕 𝒅𝒙
where k is the thermal conductivity, the heat conducted through the bar is used to raise the
temperature of a known mass of water from T3 to T4. This rate of heat energy (heat flow per
second) can be calculated using
𝑸𝒐𝒖𝒕
= 𝒎𝒄𝚫𝑻 (𝟐)
𝒕
where m is the water mass, c is the specific heat capacity of water, and ΔT (T4-T3) is the
temperature change of the water. In thermal equilibrium, Eqs. (1) and (2) are equal.
In this experiment, the thermal conductivity of a metal rod is determined by heating one end of
a cylindrical rod while the other end is maintained at a lower temperature by flowing water. At
thermal equilibrium, the temperatures T1, T2, T3, and T4 are recorded. The physical
dimensions of the rod, including its cross-sectional area A and the separation of placement of
thermometers measuring T1 and T2 as x, are also measured.
Thermal conductivity has units of W m-1 K-1.
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Figure 1: Apparatus used to measure the heat transferred by conduction through the slab.
6.3 EQUIPMENTS REQUIRED
Table I : Equipment and the items required for performing the experiment.
Sl. Required item Utility Used for
No.
1 Constant head water To supply water to maintain Set up the
tank cold end experiment
2 Cup To collect water
3 Searle’ Apparatus To hold the rod and
thermometers
4 Steam Generator To maintain heat at hot end
5 Thermometers # 4 Measure temperature measurements
6 Stop Watch Time Duration
7 Weighting balance To weigh the collected water
8 Vernier calipers To measure the diameter of rod
6.4 PROCEDURE
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The physical quantities need to be measured in this experiment – Mass, Area, Time and
Temperature. Make the following table –
Table II : The details of the physical quantities to be measured.
S.No Physical Independent / Measured Measuring instrument’s
quantity Dependent with Minimum Maximum Least
count
1 Length
2 Time
3 Mass
4 Temperature
1. Using Vernier calipers, measure the diameter, D, of the conducting metal bar and the
distance d between thermometers T1 and T2.
2. Adjust the constant-head device to ensure a steady flow of water through the coiled copper
tube at the cold end of the rod.
3. Continuously remove the outflowing water to prevent spillage and overflow during the
experiment. Dispose of the collected water.
4. Now, fill a flask with water and put it on a heater. It will take some time to generate the
steam. Pass the steam from the steam generator into the steam chest to begin heating the
rod.
5. Before starting the measurement, check for a continuous liquid column in the
thermometers and verify their linear behavior.
6. The temperature will start rising quickly. Note the readings of T1 as a function of time.
7. Allow the system to reach thermal equilibrium—i.e., ensure that the thermometer readings
remain stable (no significant changes) for 5 to 10 minutes.
8. Record the temperatures T1, T2, T3, and T4.
9. Measure the mass of the empty calorimeter cup and record it as m1.
10. Now, collect the water emerging from the coiled tube into the calorimeter cup for a
fixed time interval t (around 60–120 seconds), measured with a stopwatch. Repeat this
step for different time intervals.
11. Measure the final mass of the calorimeter and the collected water together and note it as
m2.
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12. Plot the graph for T1 vs time.
Diameter D
T1, T2 thermometer separation,d
Mass of calorimeter cup, m1
Mass of calorimeter cup and water m2
Mass of water m2-m1
Time interval, t
T1
T2
T3
T4
sno Time(s) T1(°C)
6.6 STUDY QUESTIONS
1. How the thermal conductivity affects the heat flow?
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2. Role of specific heat capacity of the material?
3. What is steady-state condition?
4. What is heat conduction?
5. What is thermal conductivity?
6. What are the benefits of using Searle’s bar apparatus for investigating thermal
conductivity for industrial purposes?
6.7 FURTHER SCOPE OF EXPERIMENTS
1. The specific heat capacity of different material/alloys, welds of similar and dissimilar
metals and materials in granular form?
6.7 PRECAUTIONS
1. Check the continuity of the liquid column and the linear behavior of the thermometers
before beginning the experiment.
2. This experiment involves generation of steam and handling of the steam boiler to
add/remove water during the experiment. Hence, use the gloves without fail while
touching the steam boiler.
3. Keep the steam outlet away from electrical connections.
4. The water flow through the good conductor must be steady in nature. To ensure it the
upper level of water in the reservoir should remain always constant.
5. The temperature difference between the thermometers T1, T2, T3 and T4 should be of
same order of magnitude.
6. The temperature difference (T4 –T3) between the inflowing and outflowing water
should not exceed 100 C, otherwise the error due to thermometers T1 and T2 will be
very high.
6.8 SOURCES OF ERROR
1. Least count of the instruments used.
2. Leakage of the heat flow through the medium.
3. There is an error in assuming that no heat lost along the bar, but no correction has been
made for this, although this will obviously affect the values of T 2 and T1.
4. Errors in m arise from errors in determining the mass of water collected.
5. Errors in the time t depend on the accuracy of the stop-watch.
6. Errors in measuring with the Vernier caliper are at least 0.05 mm, but may be bigger.
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7. The fractional error in k is given by:
6.9 THEORY
There are three means of heat transfer: conduction, convection and radiation. This experiment
is concerned with conduction and aims at measuring a parameter called thermal conductivity
of metals using Searle’s method.
The extent to which materials conduct heat can be quantified by a parameter known as the
thermal conductivity, symbol k.
Conduction is the transfer of heat through a medium, such as solid, where the heat is
transferred from molecule to molecule (or electron to electron) but there is no bulk transport
of the molecules through the medium.
Heat conduction is not only determined by the material, but also by its shape, and by the
temperature difference between the two ends. You will probably guess straight away that the
higher the temperature difference between the ends, the more heat will flow. The more heat
you put to one end of the bar, the more heat will flow to other end.
In order to measure the thermal conductivity of a certain material, we need to measure the
heat input, its length, its diameter and the temperature difference.
Heat is transferred from one end of the medium to another end by conduction. The rate of
heat flow is proportional to the area, A and the temperature gradient, dT/dx, i.e. Q/t =
kA(dT/dx) ,
Here, k is the proportionality constant (Thermal Conductivity).
Q is the heat supplied to the bar in time t,
A is the cross-sectional area of the bar,
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dT is the difference in temperature between two points in the bar dx apart,
k is the coefficient of thermal conductivity of the bar.
1. In general, the heat flown through the medium is used to raise the temperature of
water of mass M by ∆T⁰C, i.e. Q = M.∆T
In the apparatus used by you, the heat Q warms up a mass m (in kilograms) of
water from temperature T4 to T3 according to the formula:
where ‘c' is the specific heat capacity of water (c = 4190 J kg-1 K-1).
2. At equilibrium, heat transferred is equal to the heat flown.
3. Using : , (d in meters), and (A in meters squared)
we obtain:
(in W m-1 K-1)
6.10 FURTHER READIN
G AND RESOURCES
