Lab report (4)

Caloric
capacity
measurements
Energy and entropy

Table of contents:
1) Introduction
2) Background and Theory
3) Equipment and Protocol
4) Measurements Data and Results
and Data Analysis
5) Conclusion

1)Introduction:
The purpose of this experiment is based to learn
about how to determine and calculate the thermal
capacity of metal sample using the mixing
calorimeter method. Also, is about to learn and verify
the Dulong-Petit law.
The second part was to find the caloric capacity of
three metals Aluminium, Zinc and Copper.
The details and calculations of this experiment are in
the following parts of this report.

2)Background and theory:

Pressure: is a scalar quantity that gives the ratio of
the magnitude of the force exerted by a fluid
perpendicular to an area. Its unit is Pascal (Pa).
=/ ()
Thermal capacity: is a physical quantity which
equal to the ratio of the heat of an object to the
change of temperature. Its unit is (J/g*K).
Dulong-Petit law: allow to measure the specific
massic thermal capacity c of several chemical solid
elements.
Energy conservation: is the translate the thermal
balance of a process.
Uncertainty: the calculated uncertainty with each

measurement provides a range for where the actual

precise value might fall. In this case, the uncertainty
in the measurement data and results part in details.

3) Equipment and Protocol:

The following equipment were used to conduct the
experiment:
Equipment
Temperature sensor
PASCO software
Scale
Baker
Heater
Zinc sample
Copper sample
Aluminum sample
Calorimeter

Units
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1

Procedure:
In the first part of our lab session, were asked to
calculate the caloric capacity and verify the change
of temperature.
So first we took cold water in the calorimeter, then
we mixed with hot water. Using the temperature
sensor, we got the change of the temperature on the
graph.
To calculate the caloric capacity of the calorimeter,
we use the equation:

In the second part, we were given 3 metals

(Aluminum, Copper, Zinc), so to find the final
temperature of each, we put the metal in the hot
water on the heater then we removed it from hot
water to the cold in the calorimeter and by using the
temperature sensor, we got the final temperature.
All the instruments shown in this picture
Picture shows the metal in the hot water on the
heater

4) Measurements Data and Results and

Data Analysis:
Measurements for part one:
The temperature
T = T (final) T (initial)T (initial) is the room
temperature, and T final we got it using the Pasco
interface.

Using these values, we can calculate the caloric

capacity of the calorimeter:

Measurements for the second part:

Zinc:
From the graph we can see that it becomes
constant at T(final)=31.8 = 304.15 K
So by using the previous equation, we can
calculate:
Cm=20.4966

Aluminum:

The graph shows the change in the temperature

vs the time, as we can see when we put the hot
metal in the cold water the temperature starts
increasing until it reaches T(final)=31.2
Using these values, we can use the equation to
the calculate the caloric capacity of the
calorimeter in the Aluminum:

Copper:
This graph shows the difference in the
temperature vs time in the Copper. The
temperature increases after adding the metal.
The average is about T(final)=26.9

Using the equation, we found:

Cm = 19.2541 J/g*K

Conclusion:
We got introduced to different way to calculate

thermal capacity of the water and of the three metals

Aluminum, Zinc and Copper with the Formulas given
at the back.
The Uncertainties are small values, thus can be
neglected.
In our experiment, the possible errors could have
been the additional time taken due to human error,
for example, while recording, there must have been
additional seconds that were added due to the delay
of human reaction, also instrumental error plays a
role in our experiment.