Experiment 6: Heat Effects

Andrea Benavides, Rachel Cajiles, Ralph Vincent Canivel, Kimiko Beltran

Department of Math and Physics

College of Science, University of Santo Tomas
España, Manila Philippines

Abstract Theory
This experiment presents the This experiment used the method of mixture to
determination of the effects of heat in different determine the specific heat of a particular solid.
substances using almost similar processes. Specific heat can be defined as the amount of
There were three activities done in this heat required to change a unit mass of a
experiment. The first one was about determining substance by one degree in temperature. Taking
the specific heat of a metal, specifically the conservation of energy into account, the
aluminium, and proving that its specific heat is following equations were used to determine
about 910 J/kgC°. The second one is specific heat:
determining the latent heat of fusion of water.
This activity aims to prove that 0.334 J/kg is the
latent heat of fusion of water. In the third 𝑄𝑔𝑎𝑖𝑛𝑒𝑑 = 𝑄𝑙𝑜𝑠𝑡
experiment, a different process was used. The
effect of heat in the expansion of a metal rod or
was determined. The accepted value of the
𝑐1 𝑚1 𝛥𝑇1 = 𝑐2 𝑚2 𝛥𝑇2
coefficient of thermal expansion, 0.00024/°C,
was proven and determined.
Introduction in which Q is heat added or lost,
Specific heat is a physical property of a c is specific heat,
substance defined as the amount of energy or
heat energy that is needed to change the m is mass,
temperature of a substance by 1 degree. It has a and 𝛥𝑇is change in temperature.
unit of Joules per kilogram*Kelvin. It may also
be expressed as cal/gC°.
Heat capacity is defined as ratio of the
amount of transferred energy and its change in
The experiment also tackled the concept
temperature with the formula of C = Q / ΔT with
of heat of fusion. Heat of fusion can be
C being the heat capacity, Q being the energy
conceptualized as the heat absorbed by a unit
usually expressed in Joules and ΔT pertaining to
mass of a given solid at its melting point that
the change in temperature. Specific heat and
completely converts the solid to a liquid at the
heat capacity are related by mass with the
same temperature. It can be computed through
formula of C = m x S.
the use of the following equations:
This experiment aims to determine the
specific heat of a solid by method of mixtures, to
determine the latent heat of fusion and latent 𝐻𝑒𝑎𝑡𝑔𝑎𝑖𝑛𝑒𝑑𝑏𝑦𝑖𝑐𝑒 = 𝐻𝑒𝑎𝑡𝑙𝑜𝑠𝑡𝑏𝑦𝑤𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑟
heat of vaporization of water, and to determine
the coefficient of linear thermal expansion of a or
solid
 Experiment 6: Heat Effects
Andrea Benavides, Rachel Cajiles, Ralph Vincent Canivel, Kimiko Beltran

Department of Math and Physics

College of Science, University of Santo Tomas
España, Manila Philippines

𝑚𝑖𝑐𝑒 𝐿𝑓 + 𝑐𝑖𝑐𝑒 𝑚𝑖𝑐𝑒 (𝑇𝑓 − 0°𝐶)
= 𝑐𝑤𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑟 𝑚𝑤𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑟 (𝑇0 − 𝑇𝑓 )
 where m is mass,
 Lf is the latent heat of fusion,
 c is specific heat,
 T0 is initial temperature,
 and Tf is final temperature.
 was placed into the vessel until it is 2/3 full. The
Thermal expansion can be observed
when an amount of heat is applied to certain
substances. The change in length that can be
observed in an object is directly proportional to
the object’s original length and change in
temperature, and can be computed for by using a
proportionality constant 𝛼, which is the
coefficient of linear expansion. This coefficient,
in turn, can be retrieved using the following
formula:
𝑒
𝛼=
𝐿0 (𝑡𝑓 − 𝑡0 )
 where 𝛼 is the coefficient of linear
expansion,
 e is the elongation or change in length,
 L0 is the initial length,
 tf is the final temperature,
 and t0 is the inital temperature.
Methodology
Activity 1
In this experiment, the materials used
are: calorimeter, hot plate, thermometer, ice
blocks, metal object, metal jacket, thread,
beaker, linear expansion apparatus, boiler, and
meter stick. In activity 1, the metal object whose
specific heat must be determined was weighed.
A piece of thread which about 30 cm long was
attached to the metal object and was slipped into
the metal jacket. The metal jacket was placed
inside the beaker of water. The water was heated
until the temperature of the object has reached
80°C. As the object was being heated, the inner
vessel of calorimeter was weighed. The water
inner vessel with water was weighed. After that,
the inner vessel was placed in its insulating
jacket and its temperature was measured. Soon
the object has been heated to 80°C, it was
quickly transferred from the beaker to the
calorimeter without splashing any water. The
calorimeter was covered. Another thermometer
was inserted through the cover and was used to
stir the water. The equilibrium temperature was
recorded. The specific heat of the object, using
Energy Conservation and percent error were
computed.
Activity 2
In activity 2, the inner vessel of the
calorimeter was weighed. The calorimeter was
filled with half full of water and was weighed
again. The inner vessel was placed inside its
insulating jacket. The initial temperature of
water inside the calorimeter was recorded. Some
ice blocks were added to the water inside the
calorimeter and were covered. The mixture of
ice and water was stirred until all the ice has
been melted and the thermal equilibrium was
established. The equilibrium temperature was
recorded. The inner vessel with melted ice and
water was weighed. The heat of fusion of ice,
 Experiment 6: Heat Effects
Andrea Benavides, Rachel Cajiles, Ralph Vincent Canivel, Kimiko Beltran

Department of Math and Physics

College of Science, University of Santo Tomas
España, Manila Philippines

using Conservation of Heat energy and percent 𝑒

𝛼=
error were computed. 𝐿0 − (𝑡𝑓 − 𝑡𝑜 )

The accepted value of the coefficient of linear

expansion was given to be 0.000024/°C. The
Activity 3
percent error was computed.
In activity 3, the initial length of the rod
Results and Discussion
to be tested was measured. It was placed inside
the steam jacket and it’s both ends were close Table 1. Results to Specific Heat of Metal
tightly with stopper, leaving out a small portion
of each end of the rod for necessary contacts. Mass of sample 16.61g
Mass of Inner vessel
The steam jacket was mounted in the metal 43.42g
of calorimeter
frame as this frame has a micrometer disc at one
Mass of inner vessel
end. The steam jacket has two outlets: one for
of calorimeter with 228.63g
introducing steam into the jacket and the other water
one was for the steam to come out of the jacket. Mass of water inside
The first outlet was connected to the boiler by inner vessel of 185.21g
the means of rubber tubings. The initial calorimeter
temperature of the rod was measured by Initial temperature of
inserting a thermometer through the central hole water and inner 27 o C
of the jacket (Noted that the thermometer is vessel of calorimeter
touching the rod). The metal frame was Temperature of
82 o C
connected to the galvanometer. The micrometer Sample
screw was moved so that it touched the end of Equilibrium temp of
the rod as indicated by the sudden movement of sample, water, and
28 o C
galvanometer needle, in other case of other inner vessel of
models of linear expansion, faint light of bulb calorimeter.
Calculated specific
could be used. The initial reading of the 908.83 J/kg*Co
heat of sample
micrometer disc was recorded. The disc was
Accepted Value of
unwind in order the rod could expand freely. 910 J/kg*Co
Specific Heat
The rod was heated for twenty minutes by the Percent error 0.13 %
means of steam coming out from the boiler. The
final temperature of the rod was recorded. The
disc was moved until it came into contact with Table 2. Results to Heat of Fusion of Water
the rod. The final reading of the disc was
Mass of inner vessel
recorded. The expansion of the rod is the 43.42 g
of calorimeter
difference between the two readings. The Mass of inner vessel
coeffiecient of the linear expansion of the rod of calorimeter with 228.63 g
was computed by the following equation: water
Mass of water inside
185.21 g
inner vessel of
 Experiment 6: Heat Effects
Andrea Benavides, Rachel Cajiles, Ralph Vincent Canivel, Kimiko Beltran

Department of Math and Physics

College of Science, University of Santo Tomas
España, Manila Philippines

calorimeter talks about when heat is fused and when heat is

Mass of inner vessel vaporized.
of calorimeter, water, 241.98 g
and melted ice. In Table 1, it explains the concept of
Mass of melted ice 13.35 g Specific Heat. It is the physical property of a
Initial temperature of substance to increase in Temperature by one
water and inner 27o C degree. The results show that 908.83 J/kgCo is
vessel of calorimeter. the calculated amount of energy needed to
Equilibrium increase the temperature of the given metal
temperature of inner which in the experiment, Aluminum was used.
21 o C
vessel of calorimeter, The calculated number is very close to the
water, and melted ice. accepted value which is 910 J/kgCo. A good
Calculated latent heat amount of water and a larger difference in the
257.88x103 J/Kg Co
of fusion temperatures are factors that would help achieve
Accepted value of a better result in the experiment.
334x103 J/Kg Co
latent heat of fusion
Percent error 22.81 % In Table 2, it explains the Heat of
Fusion of water. The researchers solved how
much energy is needed to melt water in solid
Table 3. Results to Thermal Expansion of
form (ice) into water in liquid form (water). This
Solids.
time we are discussing the effect of heat during a
Initial Length of Rod 535mm change in Phase, in this case from Solid to
Initial Reading of Liquid. In this experiment, it also discusses the
0.45mm
Micrometer Disk concept of latent heat of fusion. The accepted
Final Reading of value is said to be 334x103 J/Kg Co. Based on
1.09mm
Micrometer Disk the calculation of the researchers the solved
Elongation of Rod 0.64mm latent heat of fusion of water from solid to liquid
Initial Temperature is 257.88x103 J/Kg Co. It is a very near value to
23o C
of Rod the said accepted with a percentage error of
Final Temperature of 22.80 %. That is the required latent of fusion to
99 o C
Rod change water in solid form into liquid form.
Experimental Value
of Coefficient of 1.57x10-5 1/Co In Table 3, it discusses what happens to
Thermal Expansion certain solids once heat is applied to them.
Accepted Value of Thermal expansion is the name of the
Coefficient of 2.4 X10-5 1/Co
experiment and in this experiment the
Thermal Expansion
Percent Error 34.58% researchers solved for the Coefficient of
The three experiments done above Thermal Expansion. The metal used in this
involve the concept of the effects change of experiment is Aluminum and its accepted value
temperature does on metals, water, and solids. It is 2.4 X10-5 /Co. During the experiment, the
researches made use of a large difference in
 Experiment 6: Heat Effects
Andrea Benavides, Rachel Cajiles, Ralph Vincent Canivel, Kimiko Beltran
Department of Math and Physics
College of Science, University of Santo Tomas
España, Manila Philippines
temperatures and waited for the metal to expand
a short distance of 1.5mm. Using the proper
calculations and formula, the calculated
coefficient of the experiment was 1.57 X10-5
/Co, which is relatively close to the original
value with the percentage error of 34.58%.
Through all three experiments a great
factor that helps the calculations better is when
the initial and final temperatures have a large
difference. A good amount of water is also
another factor that comes into consideration in
all three experiments.
Conclusion
The first activity was done to determine
the specific heat of a solid by method of
mixtures. The group was given an object made
from aluminum and they had to determine its
specific heat. The result of the activity that the
group obtained was that 908.83 J/kgCo. It was
compared to the true specific heat of aluminium
which is 910J/KgC ֯. With that, the group had a
% error of 0.13%. In the second activity, the
latent heat of fusion and latent heat of
vaporization of water was determined by heating
water and taking its initial temperature and
placing ice inside the calorimeter. The result
calculated by the group was 257.88x103 J/Kg Co
and the accepted value of latent heat of fusion of
water is 334x103 J/Kg Co. The %error obtained
by the group was 22.80%. The last activity was
done to determine the coefficient of linear
thermal expansion of a solid. The elongation of
the rod was measured after it was heated. The
result of the experiment was not as good as the
group expected because the % error obtained
was 34.58%. The calculated value was 1.57
X10-5 /Co, while the accepted value is
0.000024/°𝐶.
Application
1. Is it possible to add heat to a body
without changing its temperature?
Adding heat does not always increase
the temperature. For example, when
water is boiling, adding heat does not
increase its temperature. This happens at
the boiling temperature of every
substance that can vaporize. Adding
heat to a boiling liquid is an important
exception to general rule that more heat
makes a higher temperature. When
energy is added to a liquid at the boiling
temperature, its converts the liquid into
a gas at the same temperature. In this
case, the energy added to the liquid goes
into breaking the bonds between the
liquid molecules without causing the
temperature to change.
2. Explain why steam burns are more
painful than boiling water burns.
When water goes from gas to liquid it is
undergoing what is called a phase
change. Phase changes require a lot
more energy than just a temperature
change. The energy required for water to
go from a liquid to a gas is called the
heat of vaporization. When steam hits
the skin, a lot of energy will be released
as it condenses into a liquid, undergoing
a phase change. This energy release
causes a much worse burn than if the
same amount of boiling water were to
hit the skin where it would decrease in
temperature (to your skins temperature)
but would not have to go through a
phase change.
3. Early in the morning when the sand
in the beach is already hot, the water
is still cold. But at night, the sand is
 Experiment 6: Heat Effects
Andrea Benavides, Rachel Cajiles, Ralph Vincent Canivel, Kimiko Beltran

Department of Math and Physics

College of Science, University of Santo Tomas
España, Manila Philippines

cold while the water is still warm.
Why?
During the day, the sun heats up both
the ocean surface and the land. Water is
a good absorber of the energy from the
sun. The land absorbs much of the sun’s
energy as well. However, water heats
up much more slowly than land and so
the air above the land will be warmer
compared to the air over the ocean. At
night, the roles reverse. The air over the
ocean is now warmer than the air over
the land. The land loses heat quickly
after the sun goes down and the air
above it cools too. The ocean, however,
is able to hold onto this heat after the
sun sets and not lose it as easily.
4. Explain why alcohol rub is effective in
reducing fever.
The body uses evaporative cooling to
maintain body temperature on hot days
or during strenuous activity. The
evaporating sweat cools the body. Same
principle explains why alcohol rub is
effective. When alcohol evaporates, it
cools down the body temperature
making it effective in reducing fever.
5. Cite instances where thermal
expansion is beneficial to man. Cite
also instances where thermal
expansion is a nuisance.
Thermal expansion can be beneficial
when, for example, trying to open a
glass jar with a metal cap. Heating the
cap will make it expand. Making it
easier to open. Thermal expansion can
be a nuisance when engineers and
architects design bridges because
bridges are made of metals and metals
expand when in it is heated. During the
summer, bridges expand and needs
special joints to avoid the bridge to
bend.
6. Why is water not used in liquid in
glass thermometer?
Water will not rise or fall at
𝑡𝑒𝑚𝑝𝑒𝑟𝑎𝑡𝑢𝑟𝑒 𝑐ℎ𝑎𝑛𝑔𝑒𝑠 𝑎𝑠 𝑚𝑒𝑟𝑐𝑢𝑟𝑦.
water has a nonlinear thermal
expansion. Also, at atmospheric
pressure, water is only liquid over a
narrow temperature range of 100C
which limits its usefulness.
7. The density of aluminum is 𝟐𝟕𝟎𝟎 𝒌𝒈/
𝒎𝟑 at 20°C. What is its density at
100°C?
Assume initial volume is 1𝑚3 at 20°C
𝑚 = (2700𝑘𝑔/𝑚3 )(1𝑚3 ) = 2700 𝑘𝑔
𝑣𝑓 = 1 + 1(69𝑥10−6 )(100°𝐶 − 20°𝐶)
= 1.00552𝑚3
2700𝑘𝑔
𝜌= = 2685.18 𝑘𝑔/𝑚3
1.00552𝑚3
8. How much heat is needed to change 1
g of ice at 0°C to steam at 100°C?
1 g of ice at 0°𝐶 to 1g of water at 0°𝐶
Q= 1(80)= 80 cal
1g of water at 0°𝐶 to 1g of water at
100°𝐶
Q=1(1)(100-0)= 100 cal
1 g of water at 100°𝐶 to 1g of steam at
100°𝐶
Q= 1(540)= 540 cal
Summation of Q = 80+100+540 = 720
cal
9. An aluminum calorimeter has a mass
of 150g and contains 250g of water at
 Experiment 6: Heat Effects
Andrea Benavides, Rachel Cajiles, Ralph Vincent Canivel, Kimiko Beltran

Department of Math and Physics

College of Science, University of Santo Tomas
España, Manila Philippines

30°C. Find the resulting temperature

when 60g of copper at 100°C is placed
inside the calorimeter.
Mass of water + aluminum = 0.4kg
C of water and aluminum
𝐽 4186𝐽
0.15𝑘𝑔(900 −𝐾)+(0.25𝑘𝑔)( )
𝑘𝑔 𝑘𝑔
= 0.40𝑘𝑔
𝐽
=2953.75 −𝐾
𝑘𝑔
𝑇𝑓
𝐽
0.40𝑘𝑔(2953.75 𝑘𝑔 − 𝐾)(30°𝐶)(0.60𝑘𝑔)
= 𝐽
0.40𝑘𝑔 (2953.75 − 𝐾) (0.60𝑘𝑔)
𝑘𝑔
= 31.3458°𝐶

Reference
Cutnell, J., Johnson, K., Young, D., & Stadler,
S. (2015). Physics (10th ed.). Asia: John
Wiley & Sons (Asia) Pte Ltd.
Helmenstine, P. A. (n.d.). Here's How You
define Specific Heat Capacity. Retrieved
October 27, 2017, from
https://www.thoughtco.com/definition-
of-specific-heat-capacity-605672
Serway, R. & Vuille, C. (2015). College Physics
(10th ed.). Singapore: Cengage Learning
Asia Pte Ltd.