ABSTRACT

The purpose of this experiment is to study the conduction of heat along

a simple bar. For this experiment, brass with the diameter of 25 mm is being used.
The data is recorded based on 9 sensor points which represent T 1 to T9. This
experiment will be conducted three times in which the input power reading on the
wattmeter (QQ) starting from 10W, 20W and 30W.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

TOPICS
1.0 INTRODUCTION

PAGES
1

1.1 OBJECTIVE

1.2 THEORY

2.0 PROCEDURE

3.0 DATA / RESULT

6-7

4.0 DISCUSSION

8-25

5.0 CONCLUSION

26-29

6.0 REFERENCES

30-33

7.0 APPENDICES

34-38

1.0 INTRODUCTION

Conduction is the process of heat transfer by molecular motion,

supplemented in some cases by the flow of free electrons and lattice vibrations,
through a body (solid, liquid, or gas) from regions of high temperature to regions of
low temperature [Yaman Yenner & Sadik Kaka, 2008]. The science of heat
conduction is principally concerned with the determination of temperature distribution
within solids [M.Necati ziik et.al.,1993].
For this experiment, a solid is chosen because both liquid and gases
exhibit excessive convective heat transfer. In solids, conduction is the combined
result of molecular vibrations and free electron mobility. Metals typically have high
free electron mobility, which explains why they are good heat conductor [Incropera &
DeWitt et.al.,2009].

From this experiment, we will investigate the conduction along a simple

bar which in this experiment well be using brass bar. The diameter of the brass bar
is 25 mm. Nine temperature sensors are installed at 10 mm intervals that will take
the reading on heater, sample region (brass bar).

1.1 OBJECTIVE

To investigate Fouriers Law for linear conduction of heat along a simple bar.

1.2 THEORY

For this experiment, Fouriers Law of heat conduction equation is being used which
is:
Q=kA

dT
dx

where,
Q = heat flow rate, [W]

k = thermal conductivity of the material,

W
Km

A = cross-sectional area of the conduction, [m2]

dT = changes of temperature between 2 points, [K]
dx = changes of displacement between 2 points, [m]

If the material of the wall is homogeneous and has a thermal conductivity, k then:

Q A

T
x

Figure 1.1: Conduction through a plane wall

Thermal conductivity is a thermo physical property and has the units W/ (m.K) in the
SI system [Yaman Yenner & Sadik Kaka, 2008].

Fourier's Law is a vector relationship which includes all directions of heat transfer
[Incropera & DeWitt et.al.,2009]:

The thermal conductivity k varies between different materials and can be a function
of temperature, but it can be treated as a constant over small temperature ranges.
Because of the enhancement of heat transfer by free electrons, thermal conductivity
is analogous to electrical conductivity and as a result, metals that are good
conductors of electricity are also good conductors of heat.
In this experiment, Fourier's Law of heat conduction equation is used to find the
thermal conductivity k for brass and comparing this value to the actual value from
one or more references. To do so we will calculate the cross sectional area Ax of the
bar and the slope dT/ dx from a plot of measured temperatures vs. length. Then, use
these values in a rearranged version of Fourier's Law to find the thermal conductivity,
k:

2.0 PROCEDURES

1. First, the heat conduction study bench is switched on.

2. The water tap that attached to the cooler is then opened and filled the cooler.
3. Then, the heater power indicator is set to 10W by using the heater power
control.
4. After that, the temperature is waited for 5 minutes until it reached 50C and
the sufficient time of 1 minute is needed to achieve the steady condition to
obtain the stable temperature value.
5. The readings for every single of the sensor points are took and recorded in
the table.
6. Then, the step 3 to 5 was repeated for the other input power which is 20W
and 30W.

APPARATUS

Heater
Power
Indicator
Heater Power
Control

Main switch

Temperature
Indicator
9 sensor
points

Temperature
Selector

Figure 2.1: Heat Conduction Study Bench

Figure 2.2: The brass sample

Figure 2.3: Stopwatch

Heater

Sample Region

Cooler

x(mm)

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

x(m)

0.01

0.02

0.03

0.04

0.05

0.06

0.07

0.0

Test

QQ

T1 (K)

T2 (K)

T3 (K)

T4 (K)

T5 (K)

T6 (K)

T7 (K)

T8 (K)

T9 (

(W)
10

330.75

329.05

326.75

321.55

319.55

317.25

305.95

304.55

303

20

337.45

335.85

333.55

326.85

324.75

322.35

308.45

306.75

304

30

354.55

352.45

349.55

340.15

336.95

333.35

313.55

310.95

308

3.0 DATA / RESULTS

Table 3.1: Temperature (K) at three different heater power control and different
distances.

Temperature versus x
90
80
70
60
50
40
30
Temperature (C)

20
10
0

distance, x (m)

Graph 3.1: Experimental graph of temperature versus distance, x.