Thermocouple PHYS-1008

Winter 2012

Warning

This experiment requires an in-class lab report

Dont waste too much time!

Thermocouple
A potential difference is created when two metals are in contact. The potential depends on the metals and on the temperature.

Apparatus

Warning
Do not break the thermocouple connections. The water will become hot, TURN OFF THE HEATER when youre done. Do not throw away the CO2 Isopropanol slurry. The CO2 Isopropanol slurry is extremely cold, handle with care. Make sure you identify points taken from table 7.1 in your graph.

Experiment Outline Preliminaries: Fill one can with ice + water and another with just cold water. Check welds let us know if they are broken. Set your DMM to 200mV DC (reading error 2 in last digit). Calibration: Use alligator clips to connect DMM to thermocouple ends. Put both thermocouple junction ends in to the ice bath DO NOT let them touch the sides. Record V at T = 0C. Attach one thermocouple junction to the thermometer (0.5C) and place in calorimeter. Attach calorimeter to DC power supply, and turn the variac control to 50. As T increases V will also increase. RECORD V and T every 50mV until T 80C. Warning! Make sure the thermocouple and thermometer are not touching the heating element AND that you continuously stir the heating water. PLOT = and calculate slope, from graph (with error!). Extrapolate to T = 100C from the graph AND using the equation (with error!). Sublimation T of CO2: Insert the hot thermocouple junction in the CO2 + alcohol slurry. Wait 30s until DMM stabilizes RECORD V. Using the equation AND the graph, calculate Tsub for CO2 (with error!). Comparing experimental results to accepted data: Plot accepted V and T data on your graph. Extrapolate line. Read T for every experimental V point that you have. Compare results using consistency test. Compare experimental Tsub with the accepted value (we will tell you what it is when the time comes). Discussion: Were your experimental results comparable to accepted data? Sources of error.

You can leave when you have:

1) You give us your lab report. 2) You cleaned up your station. 3) Your T.A. is happy.