1

Mechanical Equivalent of Heat

Banda, Marybeth Hope T.
Abstract: In this experiment, the mechanical equivalent of heat was determined by inverting
a mass of Zinc pellets from a height, h. The heat produced from the inversion was measured
and used to calculate the mechanical equivalent of heat. Experimental results show that the
mechanical equivalent of heat is equal to be

1.075 10

the theoretical value determined by James Joule, which is

J/kcal which is 74.32% less than

4.186 10

J/kcal. Three factors

may have contributed on this error: (1) the inaccurate physical measurements for the
height; (2) the inaccurate temperature measurements; and (3) the uncontrollable bouncing
of the pellets upon inversion.
Introduction
James Joules paddle wheel experiments
(1840-1849) established that heat, the
internal energy, of the system can be
increased by doing work on it (1). He was
also
able
to
determine
that
the
mechanical equivalent of heat is equal to
4.184 J and that a joule of heat is the
amount of heat that produces the same
change in a system as a joule of work (1).
The aim of this experiment is to determine
the mechanical equivalent of heat.
Specifically, it aims to: (1) calculate the
work done on the system and the heat
involved; and (2) calculate the mechanical
equivalent of heat.
Experimental Methods
The materials and the set up used in this
experiment are presented in Figure 1.

The variables that were studied in this

experiment are the number of inversions,
the temperature change, and the height of
the inversion. The number of inversions
was
measured
by
counting.
The
temperature change was measured by
measuring the temperature before and
after inversion with a dial thermometer
inserted on the Styrofoam cover. The
height of inversion was obtained by
calculating the height that was not
occupied by the pellets.
The aim of this experiment is to measure
the mechanical equivalent of heat.
Since this experiment measures heat as
influenced by work, it is necessary to cool
the pellets to 8-9C before weighing. After
which, the pellets were inserted into the
PVC pipe and the pipe containing the
pellets were inverted for 150-151 times.
The temperature before inversion and
after inversion was recorded. This was
done for two trials.
Results and Discussion

Figure 1. Experimental Set up

The weight of the cooled Zinc (Zn) pellets

were found to be between 496-499 g.
Calculations
on
the
physical
measurements of the PVC pipe and the
volume of Zn found the height of the
inversion to be between 0.925-0.926 m.
Temperature measurements found the
change in temperature, T, to be between

2
12-16 K. The summary of the results of the
experiment is shown on Table 1.

Conclusion and Recommendations

Using the aforementioned data, the work,

the heat involved, and the mechanical
equivalent of heat were calculated using
Equations 1, 2, and 3, respectively. The
complete calculations and equations are
found on the Appendices.

The kinetic energy of the pellets as it falls

upon inversion was converted to heat
energy. This heat energy was measured.
Subsequently, the work done on the
system (pellets) and its heat equivalent
was calculated.
The experimental mechanical equivalent
of heat was found to be

J/kcal which is 74.32% less than the

theoretical value determined by James

Table 1. Summary of Results

Parameter
Mass of Zn, m (g)
Specific Heat of Zn, C
(J/gC)
Height, h (m)
T (K)
Number of Inversions
Mech. Eq. of Heat, W/Q
(J/kcal)
Mean W/Q (J/kcal)
Mean Percentage Error

1.075 103

Joule, which is

Measurement
Trial I
Trial II
498.67
495.84
0.388
0.388

factors may have contributed on this error:

(1) the inaccurate physical measurements
for the height; (2) the inaccurate
temperature measurements; and (3) the
uncontrollable bouncing of the pellets
upon inversion.

0.925
15.5
151

0.926
12.26
150

952.741

1196.77
5
3

1.074758438 10
74.32 %

W =Nmgh

Eq. 1

Q=mC T

Eq. 2

W Nmgh
=
Q mC T

Eq. 3

The work done on the pellets as they were

inverted produced heat. The potential
energy of the pellets before it was
inverted form the height, h, was converted
to kinetic energy upon inversion. Upon
impact on the bottom, the kinetic energy
is transformed to either sound energy
(vibrations) (2) or to molecular vibrations
(heat). The conversion of kinetic energy to
heat was observed with the temperature
rise after inversions. The heat that is
calculated from the T is used in the
determination
of
the
experimental
mechanical equivalent of heat.

4.186 10 3 J/kcal. Three

The physical measurements done on the

pipe for the height of the inversion and
the temperature measurements is limited
on the precision of the instrument used.
The measurement of the height directly
affects the experimental mechanical
equivalent of heat. The decrease of the
measurement of the height from its actual
value corresponds to the decrease of the
experimental value of the mechanical
equivalent of heat from the theoretical
value. This error is compounded with the
inaccurate
measurement
of
the
temperature change. This is due to the
small precision of the instrument used.
Moreover, the uncontrollable bouncing of
the pellets upon inversion produces
excess heat resulting to the increase in
temperature.
The
increase
of
the
temperature change from its actual value
corresponds to the decrease of the
experimental value of the mechanical
equivalent of heat.
For future conduct of this experiment, it is
recommended
that
more
precise
instruments be used for the measurement
of the height of inversion and for the
temperature.
References

1. Silbey, Robert J., Alberty, Robert A.

and Bawendi, Moungi G. Physical
Chemistry. 4th. Massachusetts : John Wiley
& Sons, Inc., 2005.
2. Sound Energy. Kinds of Energy. [Online]
The increase of the temperature change

from its actual value corresponds to the

decrease of the experimental value of the
mechanical equivalent of heat., 2015.
[Cited:
March
6,
2015.]
http://www.eschooltoday.com/energy/kinds
-of-energy/what-is-sound-energy.html.

APPENDIX
Room Temperature: 80F or 26.7C
Table 1. Summary of Results
Measurement

Parameter

Trial I
498.67 g
0.388 J/gC
0.925 m
282.05 K
297.55 K
15.5 K
151
952.741 J/kcal

Mass of Zn (m)
Specific Heat of Zn (C)
Height (h)
Initial Temp (T1)
Final Temp (T2)
T
Number of Inversions
W/Q
Mean W/Q

Trial II
495.84 g
0.388 J/gC
0.926 m
287.59 K
299.85 K
12.26 K
150
1196.775 J/kcal

1.074758438 103 J/kcal

Percentage Error

74.32 %
TRIAL I
Calculation for height

hc =100 cm ( 2.3 cm+2.2 cm )=95.5 cm

r=2.75

V c = r 2 h c
V c = ( 2.75 cm)2 ( 95.5 cm )
3

V c =2.268917119 10 cm
Volume of ZnPVC=
h=
h=

m
498.67 g
3
=
=70.23521127 cm
3
7.10 g/cm

Total volume of PVCVolume of ZnPVC

r2

2.268917119 10 3 cm370.23521127 cm3

=92.54376037 cm
( 2.75 cm )2
Calculation of work

W =Nmgh

W = (151 ) ( 498.67 g )

1 kg
( 0.9254303983 m)
( 9.8s m )( 1000
g)
2

W =682.9045807 kg m2 /s2
Calculation for heat

Q=mC T
Q=( 498.67 g )( 0.388 J / gK ) ( 15.5 K )
Q=( 2.99900138 10 3 )

1 kcal
( 4184
J)

Q=0.716778532 kcal
Calculation for the mechanical equivalent of heat
2 2
W ( 682.9045807 kg m /s )
=
=952.7413981 J / kcal
Q
0.716778532kcal

FOR TRIAL II
Calculation for height

Volume of Zn PVC=
h=
h=

m
495.84 g
3
=
=69.83661972 cm
7.10 g/cm3

Total volume of PVCVolume of ZnPVC

r2

2.268917119 10 3 cm 369.83661972cm3
=92.56053731 cm
( 2.75 cm )2
Calculation for work

W =Nmgh

W = (150 )( 495.84 g )

9.8 m
s2

1 kg
( 0.9256053731 m )
() 1000
g)
2

W =674.6596873 kg m / s
Calculation for heat

Q=mC T

Q=( 495.84 g ) ( 0.388 J /gK ) ( 12.26 K )

Q=( 2.358651379 10 3)

1 kcal
( 4184
J)

Q=0.563731209 kcal
Calculation of the mechanical equivalent of heat
2 2
W ( 674.6596873kg m / s )
=
=1196.775478 J /kcal
Q
0.563731209 kcal

MEAN

952.7413981 J /kcal+1196.775478 J /kcal

3
X =
=1.074758438 10 J /kcal
2
Error=

|4186 J /kcal1.074758438 103 J /kcal|

4186 J /kcal

100=74.32