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Date: 12/12/13
Hypothesis: It is predicted that the average temperature of the Earth will increase by a
few degrees over the next hundred years. One consequence of this is that sea levels will
In order for scientists to make any kind of estimate of how much the levels will rise, it is
necessary to know how much expansion will occur for a given rise of temperature.
Aim: Design a laboratory experiment to investigate how the volume of a given amount of
Diagram:
Name: Brandon Sookdeo
Figure 1 showing the setup of apparatus to determine how the volume of a given amount
Theory: As suggested in the aim, this experiment will attempt to show a relationship
between volume and temperature and in fact there is one. A certain volume of water is
directly proportional to its temperature. This is true over most temperature ranges, except
below 4oC where water begins to take up more space (become less dense) instead of
following the common trend (from 100 oC to 4 oC) to take up less space (become more
dense). This is why ice can float on water, because it is less dense.
In the temperature range 4oC to 100oC the kinetic energy of the water particles increases
gradually causing their relative distances to each other to increase, thus increasing the
Name: Brandon Sookdeo
volume of the water. It should also be noted that increasing kinetic energy of the water
Method:
2. Find and record the weight of the empty glass flask and capillary tube using the
3. Fill the flask completely with water and insert stopper and capillary tube.
4. Find and record the weight of the apparatus again using top balance.
5. Place glass flask into water bath at room temperature (measure with the
thermometer).
6. Heat water bath with Bunsen burner to a temperature a couple degrees higher,
7. Turn off the Bunsen burner and quickly record temperature T1, and the
corresponding height, h1 of the water in the capillary tube from its initial height.
Results:
Name: Brandon Sookdeo
Table 1 showing the changes in the height of water in the capillary tube with change in
temperature.
Variables:
Treatment of results:
Mass of water in flask = mass of apparatus with water mass of apparatus without
water
Find radius, r, of capillary tube by halving the diameter found using the micrometer
screw gauge.
Use formula V = r2h and use the value of r found above and the varying values of h
Precautions:
The water in the bath is stirred during hearing to ensure that the water is
uniformly heated.
Dont heat the water to temperature close to 100 oC due to steam problems.
The capillary tube that is used is to be very narrow to allow for the best readable
heights.
Limitations:
Heat loss can take place in the time it takes to transition from steps 6 to 7 causing
inaccurate results.
Name: Brandon Sookdeo
For some temperature changes the corresponding volume change might be too