ABSTRACT

The background of this experiment is to observe and compare the change in temperature when a fixed quantity of heat energy is supplied under different circumstances. It has been observed that different type of materials have different magnitude of temperature change. A study of physics suggested that the temperature change of material under fixed quantity of heat energy is directly proportional to specific heat capacity, density, mass and of course, type of liquid for sure. Quantitative results are shown from the experiment and agree with the agreement above. The temperature change is greatest at smaller mass of water and a lower density of water. A theoretical analysis, backed by observations from the experiment, indicates that mass and type of material play an undeniable role in the magnitude of temperature change.

Introduction Heat change is actually related to the thermal equilibrium. When two bodies A and B, which are at different temperatures, are placed in contact with each other, heat is transferred from the hotter body, A to the colder body, B. The temperature of body A decreases as a result of the loss of heat from its particle while the temperature of the body B increases when its particle receive heat. When the temperature of both bodies, A and B are equal, thermal equilibrium has been reached. The two bodies, A and B are said to be in thermal equilibrium if the rates of heat transfer from A to B and vice versa, are equal, that is, the net rate of heat transfer between two bodies is zero. Heat capacity, on the other hand, is defined as the amount of heat energy needed to increase the temperature of an object by 1 degree Celsius. This concept has brought us to the specific heat capacity. We want to observe why some material heated up faster than other and vice versa. This is related to the concept of thermal equilibrium and specific heat capacity. Sine different material has different factors that can affect the temperature change, hence, under fixed quantity of heat supplied, we want to investigate what is the factor affecting the temperature change.

The objective of this project is very obvious, that is to compare the change in temperature when a fixed quantity of heat is supplied to different conditions of liquid.

Methodology Apparatus or materials used in this experiment is weighing scale, 1000ml glass beakers, immersion heater, thermometer, stirrer, water, cooking oil and stopwatch.

(A) Two different masses of water

1. A beaker containing 200g of water is prepared using a weighing scale. 2. The apparatus is set up as shown above. 3. A 50w immersion heater is placed in beaker. 4. The initial temperature of the water, 1 is recorded. 5. The immersion heater is switched on and the stopwatch is started. The water is continuously been stirred. 6. The temperature of the water is recorded every minute. 7. After 5 minutes of heating, the heater is switched off. The highest temperature reached by the water, 2 is recorded. 8. The temperature rise, = 2 1 is calculated. 9. The above procedure is repeated with 500g of water.