Temperature and Heat

Graph of the thermal equilibrium of 2 cups of tap water with different temperature.  The temperature displaces the final temperature.  Time of the photo was taken immediately when thermal equilibrium was reach to avoid the lost of energy to surrounding.

Calculation of the final temperature using Q = mc(delta)T  

By setting the Q = Q, we can find Tf because of thermal equilibrium occurs at final temperature.

The experiment of specific heat using temperature probe with an aluminium can as a heat conductor in water, and possibilities of the high experimental error.  Experimental specific heat for aluminum yield to be 16.3.  Intuitively we know that 16 must be an error when compare to 4.186 of water specific heat.  The propagation of uncertainty will be displayed at the bottom.

Graph of the aluminium can as a heat conductor submerged in water and the data.  The disturbance of the graph was due to the stiring and handling of the experiment equipment.

The group discussion of the possibilities of factors that can alter the rate of cooling variables.  In blue: the relationship of heat transfer and the meaning of each unit explained in lecture.

The relationship of dependent and independent variables that determinate the heat and the proportionality.

Group activity of Aluminium and Copper rod in contact for heat transfer and (delta)T.  Our side of the room were to calculate the heat transfer for the blue rod (aluminum).  Surprisingly, the class discovered that heat transfered by both Copper and Aluminum were the same, 67.7 degree C.

The experimental value of the heat transfer into water with respect to time.  The slope in the graph (fitted by the program) is the rate (ratio) of energy and temperature.

Calculation of the heat transfer into water activity to find the specific heat (c). 

Class activity of the uncertainty to demonstrate the acceptable way of scientific experiment and acceptable interpretation of the values.

Summary:
Any thing that comes in contact with another mass that has a different temperature will cause heat to transfer from high to low.  The system will eventually come in equilibrium thermally unless another source of heat would be introduced.  The lecture also covered thermal expansions, heat transfer, heat capacity calculations.



Uncertainty of the heat transfer activity:

Using the equation Q = mc(delta)T , we can relate the mass, specific heat, and temperature difference in a relation.  In the activity, this equation is also used to propagate the uncertainty of the equipment used during the experiment. 

The actual calculations:

In conclusion to the Aluminium can experiment, the final result of the experimental specific heat should be 16.8 +/- 28.  The result were withing the uncertainty despite the theoretical value was smaller by 4 factors.  The high experimental value could be a combination of systematic error (i.e. equipment un-calibrated, digital scare not tared before usage, the Mason-estimation on the initial temperature and the Mason-estimation on the mass of the aluminium can.)