Name: Abdullah Ahmed Mohamed
Haggag
ID: 120240033
E-mail:
[email protected]
Section: 2
Mechanical Equivalent of Heat (JOULE’s Constant)
Abstract:
The experiment aims to find the mechanical equivalent of heat, which
is the relationship between mechanical work and heat energy. James
Prescott Joule discovered that a certain amount of mechanical work
can produce a specific amount of heat. In this experiment, we used a
simple system to measure how much heat is produced by a certain
amount of mechanical work and calculated Joule's constant, which
helps to understand how energy can change forms.
Aim of the Experiment:
The goal of this experiment is to determine the mechanical equivalent
of heat, also known as Joule’s constant. This will allow us to
understand how mechanical energy (work) can be converted into
thermal energy (heat).
Introduction:
In physics, heat and mechanical work are both forms of energy, but
they are measured in different ways. The mechanical equivalent of
heat shows how mechanical work can be transformed into heat.
James Prescott Joule’s famous experiment in the 19th century proved
that mechanical work and heat are related. The mechanical
equivalent of heat is a constant that connects the amount of work
done (measured in joules) to the amount of heat produced (measured
in calories). This constant is now known as Joule's constant.
EQ = (MCw + M′Cbr + v Cth) ∆T = constant1 × ∆T
Cw = specific heat of water = 1.00 cal g-1 C-1 (by definition of the
calorie)
Cbr = specific heat of brass (cones and stirrer) = 0.089 cal g-1 °
C-1
Cth = heat capacity per unit volume of temperature probe = 0.013 cal
cm-3 °
C-1
M = mass of water (in g)
M′ = mass of cones and stirrer (in g)
v = volume of the immersed part of the temperature probe (in cm3
).
∆T = increase in temperature experimental
Procedures:
Set up a system where mechanical work can be performed. This can
include a paddle wheel or a rotating disk.
Heat a known quantity of water by using the mechanical work done
by the system. Make sure the system can measure temperature
changes in the water.
Measure the starting temperature of the water.
Perform the mechanical work (e.g., rotating the paddle wheel) and
keep track of the energy used.
Measure the final temperature of the water after the work is done.
Calculate the change in temperature and use it to find the mechanical
equivalent of heat.
① Put a magnet in a styrene foam container and measure the mass
ml with a balance n
② Insert a certain amount (about 200 ml) of water into a Styrofoam
container and place the
magnet in a water container, weight the mass [m2] with a balance,
from which ml is added.
Find m.
③ Place the container containing water in the calorimeter main body
and rotate the stirrer
speed adjustment knob. Turn it in the clockwise direction, set the
magnet at an appropriate
rotation speed, cover it with a lid.
3
④ Turn on the power with the circuit wired as shown in previous
figure and let the current I =
2 A flow. (Voltage V = 10.7 V) Measure the water temperature with a
thermometer at 2-minute
intervals. Repeat five times.
⑤ based on the measurement results, we will calculate the thermal
work cost by the following
formula.
In the equation, [v] is the voltage (v), [I] is the current (A), [t] is the
current supply time (s),
[m] is the mass of water (g), [θ1] is the water temperature (C) at the
start of current supply, [θ2]
is the water temperature at the time when the current supply is
stopped. [ω] is the total water
equivalent of the styrene foam container, magnet and thermometer.
Equipment:
The contents of the device are as follows.
① Digital thermometer (With battery)
② Lid (with terminal)
③ Resistance wire (6 ohm)
④ Styrofoam container (2 spots in total including spare)
⑤ Thermometer body
⑥ Stirrer
⑦ Magnet
Conclusion:
The experiment shows that mechanical work can be converted into
heat. By carefully measuring the work done and the heat produced,
we can calculate Joule’s constant, which gives us a precise value for
the relationship between mechanical work and heat energy. This
experiment helps us understand how energy changes forms, which is
fundamental to many applications in science and engineering, such as
in engines and heat transfer systems.
Reference:
1. https://faraday.physics.utoronto.ca/IYearLab/mechequ.pdf
2. https://resources.pcb.cadence.com/blog/2022-joules-mechanical-
equivalent-of-heat-a-conversion-factor
3. https://collegeofsanmateo.edu/physics/docs/physics260/lab08.p
df
4.
