Contents

Abstract:...................................................................................................................................................................2
Introduction:............................................................................................................................................................2
Theory:.....................................................................................................................................................................2
Materials:.................................................................................................................................................................3
Methods:..................................................................................................................................................................4
Tabulation:...............................................................................................................................................................4
Results and discussion:............................................................................................................................................5
Conclusion:...............................................................................................................................................................5
Suggested improvements for the future include:....................................................................................................6
Budget:.....................................................................................................................................................................7
Reference:................................................................................................................................................................7
2|Page

Abstract:
Energy is required to change water from a solid to a liquid, i.e. to melt ice. In this experiment, we will try to
measure the latent heat of fusion of ice, the energy needed (per gram) to melt ice. The required energy will
come from a beaker of warm water. The amount of water and its temperature will be measured before adding
some ice and then again after the ice has been melted. These data will be used in an energy balance equation to
determine latent heat.

Introduction:
Thermal energy refers to the kinetic energy produced by the particle inside the object. An object can lose or gain
thermal energy. When an object is gaining thermal energy it is also gaining heat. The amount of heat required to
increase 1K temperature of 1gm object to is called specific heat and heat capacity is the amount of energy that
we need to increase the whole object to 1K. In this lab activity we use a calorimeter to store thermal energy
inside of it; energy can escape when there is an open space. It also allows systems to reach equilibrium
temperature. Energy required to bring about a phase change of a given amount of a substance from the solid to
the liquid state is called the latent heat of fusion. There is always a winner of energy and a loser of energy when
we work with different systems in thermal energy. As we know to increase the temperature of water it takes heat
energy and this is given by the formula Q = mCT., meaning that the temperature increase is directly
proportional to the heat put into the system; however, this is not the case during a phase change(i.e. melting,
freezing, boiling, etc.).During a phase change the temperature of the substance remains constant. This is due to
the fact that the energy being put into the system is being used to break the intermolecular forces between the
molecules allowing them to separate causing the phase change.

Theory:
The principle of thermal equilibrium tells us that whenever objects are placed together in an insulated and
closure, they will eventually reach the same temperature. If energy is conserved, the heat lost by the warm
bodies will be equal to the heat gained by the cold bodies. That is

Heat gained = Heat lost

The equation expresses the net heat transfer within a system. The quantity of heat required to melt a unit mass of
a substance at its melting point is called the latent heat of fusion for that substance.

Lf = Q/m; Q = mLf

Here, Q = amount of heat transfer

m = mass of substance

Lf = Latent heat of fusion

When a substance absorbs a given amount of heat, the speed of its molecules usually increased and its
temperature rises. The kinetic energy become so great that some of the particle that holds time on fixed position.
3|Page

There increased separation gives them the freedom of motion which we associated with the liquid phase. At this
point the energy absorb used to separate the molecules more than the solid phase. The temperature doesn’t
increase during such a change of phase. The change of phase from a solid to liquid is called fusion. In the
following experiment, we used the above equation. That is ,

Heat loss = Heat gained By

energy balance equation:

Q1 = Q2 + Q3 + Q4

mwCw(Tn-Tm) = mcCc(Tn-Tm) + miLf + mici(T-0)

Lf = mwCw(Tn-Tm)- mcCc(Tn-Tm) - mici(T-0) / m Where,

a) Specific heat of beaker = Cc

b) Mass of beaker =mc
c) Specific heat of water= Cw
d) Mass of hot water = mw
e) Specific heat of ice = Ci
f) Mass of ice = mi
g) Initial temperature of hot water = Tn
h) Final temperature of mixed water = Tm
i) Latent heat of fusion of ice = Lf

Here the experimental value is taken for all the value and other is known as of constant value. In this way of
calculation we find the value of Lf.

Materials:
i. Ice cubes
ii. A clean cloth and a heavy object to crush
ice. iii. A beaker of hot water
iv. A low specific heat capacity thermometer
v. A calorimeter
vi. Insulated container
vii. Lid and stir
viii. Weight meter ix. Stopwatch
x. Wooden box
4|Page

xi. Inner jar and outer jar xii.

Cover
xiii. Base

Methods:
1. Crush the ice, place it in the beaker of water and leave there for approximately 20 minutes
(until it begins to melt at 0˚C). Use a thermometer to measure the temperature.
2. Find the mass of the empty calorimeter using a balance. mcal
3. Heat some water to approx. 7˚C above room temperature Fill the calorimeter about 2/3’s
full with this water and find the combined mass of the calorimeter and water, then
subtract to find the mass of the water and calorimeter. m2.
4. The mass of the water mw is m2 – mcal.
5. Place the calorimeter into its insulated container with a low specific heat capacity
thermometer and a stir. Place the lid on top.
6. Dry some of the crushed ice and add to the water. Stir until it melts and continue to add
more ice until the temperature of the water drops to 7˚C below room temperature
7. Leave for 2 minutes to ensure the temp of the water has reached its lowest, and then
record the temperature.
8. Find the total mass of the calorimeter, water and ice, m 3,, and then subtract m2 to find the
mass of the ice added.
9. The mass of the melted ice mi is m3 – m2.
10.Use the following formula to find the specific latent heat of fusion of ice:

MwCwΔθ = McCcΔθ + MiL + MiwCwΔθ

Tabulation:
Specific heat of water, Cw = 4200 J/kg

Specific heat of calorimeter, Cc = 753 J/kg

Mass of calorimeter, mc = 0.175 kg

5|Page

No. of Mass of Mass of ice, Intial Final Latent heat

observation water, Mi (kg) temperature temperature Lf(J/kg)
MW Tn( C )) Tm
(kg)
1 0.275 0.01 44 38.8 369117
2 0.160 0.005 42 37 384825
3 0.125 0.01 67 52 371437

Results and discussion:

For 1st, 2nd, and 3rd observation the result of latent heat was respectively 369117,384825,371437 J/kg. Relative error is
respectively 9.85%, 14.53% and 10.5%. The average error is 11.6%. There are lots of reasons that responsible for this
error. There are two types of error instrumental and operative error. Instrumental error is major error in our experiment.
The insulating system in our experiment was not good enough. The insulation power just decreased over time. That is
also responsible for the error.

Common Errors:
1. Stirring: It is important to stir the water and ice mixture to ensure that the temperature through out the water is
uniform. Not stirring the ice and water mixture causes the final temperature to be too warm and gives an
experimental value of the Latent Heat of Fusion that is not exact to the original value.

2. Thermometer: The thermometer should not come into contact with the calorimeter. This contact causes the
final temperature to be too warm and gives an experimental value of the Latent Heat of Fusion that is not
exact to the original value.

3. Drying the ice: If the ice is not dried there will be water at 0oC on the ice. The added water will contribute to
the final mass of liquid but it will not gain the amount of heat that an equivalent amount of ice would gain.
The initial temperature of the water in the calorimeter will not have to drop as far. Hence the final temperature
will be too high. The result will be an experimental value of the Latent Heat of Fusion that is too low.

4. Lid problem: The system of the experiment is not properly insulated because of the existing holes on the lid.
They are the entering hole of the thermometer and the stir.

5. Observation error: The reading of the thermometer is not seen properly below 35C. That is our minor error.)

Conclusion:
The experiment could have been repeated and conducted more than once, in order to obtain average readings
which could lead to more accurate values and it would help to reduce random errors which effected the values
and results. There might have been significant heat loss to the surrounding while transferring the hot water from
the beaker into the calorimeter and this heat loss might have affected the values and results. There might have
6|Page

been significant heat gain from the surrounding while measuring the mass of the ice in the calorimeter and the
heat gain might have affected the values and results. From our experiment we can conclude:

• The more thermal energy and object has, the more its temperature will rise.
• Change in state doesn’t mean change in temperature.
• A change in temperature means a change in thermal energy.
• Energy is not lost, it is conserved.

Suggested improvements for the future include:

• Stir must be used for the proper distribution of heat throughout the system so that the ice
melts uniformly. Stir should be insulated material to avoid further heat loss.
• For better observation, we can use Stainless steel thermometer that gives reading on the
top of it.
• It would be made sure that all the ice has melted.
• The thermometer would be left for a longer time in the substance whose temperature is to
be measured and only after that a measurement would be taken.
• Heat loss to the surroundings would be minimized by minimizing the time between the
transferring of the ice to the water in the calorimeter.
• We can use rubbery material in the hole of the lid for reducing heat loss.

A figure of our suggested coffee cup calorimeter is given below:

7|Page

Budget:
Equipment Price($)(minimum)
Stirrer $7.00
SS thermometer $15.00
Styrofoam cup with lid $48.00
Switch and wire $1.00

Reference:
1) Latent heat of fusion of ice by D. C. Dickinson
2) https://prezi.com/yqib8ovnfxqo/latent-heat-of-fusion-physics-lab-report/
8|Page