Mapa Institute of Technology

Department of Physics
Physics 12 Laboratory

Experiment 302 Group No. 2 May 13, 2014 1 of 9

Analysis














The experiment conducted features one form of energy which is heat. It may be
transferred in three different ways: conduction, convection and radiation. This heat
transfer varies on different properties of the body such as on how much energy a certain
body releases and absorbs. The amount of heat that one can have also vary, depending
on the bodys latent heat. These properties were further understood by our group as the
experiment was performed.
The certain heat and the latent heat of a body are to be discovered through the
experiment by applying the law of heat exchange. The law states that in an isolated
system, the amount of heat given up by the hot body is equal to the amount of heat
absorb by the cold body. But before we further the discussion, these are the materials
used in order to perform the said experiment:
Mapa Institute of Technology
Department of Physics
Physics 12 Laboratory

Experiment 302 Group No. 2 May 13, 2014 2 of 9


























Digital Weight Scale
Thermometers
Aluminum & Copper Metal
Ice
Electric Stove
Calorimeter
Beaker
Mapa Institute of Technology
Department of Physics
Physics 12 Laboratory

Experiment 302 Group No. 2 May 13, 2014 3 of 9

In order to utilize the law of heat exchange which was defined earlier, the
experiment uses the method of calorimetry in order to determine the amount of heat
quantitatively. Through this method, it proves that

because this process

shows that the heat loss by the body with a higher temperature is equal to the heat gain
of the body with a lower temperature.

In addition to that the amount of heat also depends on three factors which are the
mass of an object, the change in temperature and the specific heat of a body. This leads
us to the equation where Q is the needed amount of heat to raise the
temperature of the body.

In the first part of the experiment, our group
was to determine the specific heat of the metals.
Initially, the mass of the metal, inner calorimeter
and water was noted. Afterwards, when the water
in the beaker was already boiling, one of the metals
were immersed to water for quite some time. While
the metal is being heated, the calorimeter was set-
up and the reading for the initial temperature of the
water in the calorimeter was recorded. After
heating them, the temperature of the heated metal
was recorded, and immediately after taking note of
the temperature the metal was immersed to the
water in the calorimeter to take note of the final
temperature. These values will be the key in
solving c.
Mapa Institute of Technology
Department of Physics
Physics 12 Laboratory

Experiment 302 Group No. 2 May 13, 2014 4 of 9

But before discussing the computation of our data and the analysis, here is a table
of the gathered data:
Part 1.
Determining the Specific Heat of Metals
Trial 1.
Aluminum Metal
Trial 2.
Copper Metal

Mass of metal,

31.40 g 49.70 g
Mass of calorimeter,

47.00 g 47.00 g
Mass of water,

170.30 g 170.30 g
Initial temperature of metal,

79.00 C 70 C
Initial measure of calorimeter,

25 C 27 C
Initial temperature of water,

25 C 27 C
Final temperature of mixture,

27 C 28 C
Experimental specific heat of metal,

0.2211 cal/g 0.0836 cal/g

Actual specific heat of metal,

0.2174 cal/g 0.0917 al/g

Percentage Error 1.70% 8.83%

The data presented above is the data the group has gathered while performing the
experiment. But in order to calculate the Experiment specific heat of metal we have
derived our equation from the formula

. The one who released
heat energy in the first part of the experiment is the metal. Likewise, the one that
absorbs the heat energy are the calorimeter and water. Therefore the derivation of our
formula would be like this.
Derivation:

Identify which are the release
and absorb then use Qmct

)(

)
cal /g * C
Subscript:
m = metal
c = calorimeter
w = water
Mapa Institute of Technology
Department of Physics
Physics 12 Laboratory

Experiment 302 Group No. 2 May 13, 2014 5 of 9

We now have formulated the formula to calculate the specific heat of metal
for this experiment. But what is this specific heat? What does it do? Specific heat is
defined as the amount of heat that has to be transferred to or from one unit of mass
or mole of a substance to change its temperature by one degree. Specific heat is a
property, which means that it depends on the substance under consideration and
its state as specified by its properties.

Base from the results of the first part of the experiment the group has an
acceptable percent error. The good thing is that it is lower than 10%, which means
we can say that the group has executed it properly. If the group were to try on a
bigger piece of metal, we can say that there could be no improvement s on the
result of the percent error. Rather, results may just yield a bigger percentage of
error because the larger mass of metal may not have enough time to absorb heat
and if there isnt enough heat energy to increase the temperature of that metal.

The second part of the experiment is all about heat and calorimeter. Here we
are required to evaluate the specific heat of metal and latent heat of fusion of ice by
means of using the calorimeter as equipment for the experiment.

For this part we assumed that the temperature of the ice is equal to zero.
Afterwards all the data that can be immediately collected for the initial values were
all noted down. Next, the ice was placed inside the calorimeter then sealed it and
used the stirrer to melt the ice until it turned to water. Immediately after that the
temperature was taken using the thermometer. Now what was left was to calculate
the Experimental latent heat of fusion.

Mapa Institute of Technology
Department of Physics
Physics 12 Laboratory

Experiment 302 Group No. 2 May 13, 2014 6 of 9

The table presented below is the gathered data for the second part of the
experiment.
Part 2.
Latent Heat of Fusion of Ice
Trial 1. Trial 2.
Mass of calorimeter,

47 g 47 g
Mass of water,

182.5 g 179.8 g
Mass of mixture,

262.2 g 253 g
Mass of ice,

37.2 g 26.7 C
Initial temperature of ice,

0 C 0 C
Initial temperature of calorimeter,

27 C 27 C
Initial temperature of water,

27 C 27 C
Final temperature of mixture,

13 C 16 C
Experimental latent heat of fusion,

89.0312 cal/g 86.3117 cal/g

Actual specific latent heat of fusion,

80 cal/g 80 cal/g
Percentage Error 11.289 % 7.89%

In this part of the computation, in order to solve for the latent heat of fusion, it is
again derived from the formula

. Together with that, the
formula for heat when changing phases ,

, is to be applied in order to calculate

for the latent heat of fusion. But first

and

has to be identified. The
ones that released heat are the calorimeter and water. On the other hand the ones that
absorbed heat are the ice and the ice that turned into water. Therefore the derivation
would be


Mapa Institute of Technology
Department of Physics
Physics 12 Laboratory

Experiment 302 Group No. 2 May 13, 2014 7 of 9
Derivation:





cal/g

Now the formula presented above is the formula derived from the original
equation of heat. Upon changing from one phase to another, a pure substance releases or
absorbs heat without its temperature changing. The amount of heat transfer during a
phase change is known as latent heat and depends primarily on the substance and its
state.

For this part of the experiment, it would have been better to use how water in the
calorimeter because we can observe the heat exchange better. There would be more heat
transferred and so the data will be easier to gather. Rather than using tap water because
it only shows a few changes during the experiment proper.

Compared from the first part of the experiment, the group calculated a percent
error a bit bigger than 10% but still this is acceptable since it is not an isolated system
and many factors set in. Therefore it is hard to get an accurate reading.

The possible sources of errors could be the following below:
1. Long time frame in transferring materials
a better data would have been gathered if the members of the group
moved fast while doing the experiment

)(

Subscript:
m = metal
c = calorimeter
w = water
i = ice
Mapa Institute of Technology
Department of Physics
Physics 12 Laboratory

Experiment 302 Group No. 2 May 13, 2014 8 of 9

2. Time of immersing the metal
errors would have been minimized if the metal was immersed for a longer
period of time
3. Measurements of temperature
the temperature of the metal should have been taken near the boiling water
to avoid cold air
4. Air conditioned room
better result could have been recorded if student took note of this factor so
that they would move fast in order for the cold air not to affect their
experiment















Mapa Institute of Technology
Department of Physics
Physics 12 Laboratory

Experiment 302 Group No. 2 May 13, 2014 9 of 9

Conclusion

The objectives of the experiment were to determine the specific heat of aluminum
and copper and also to determine the latent heat of fusion of ice. The experiment subject
shows how the surrounding heat affects the temperature of an object. It is that form of
energy that can be transferred to another object if there is difference in the temperature.
Specific heat is the amount of heat per unit mass required to raise the temperature by
one degree Celsius. The amount of heat is determined quantitatively using a calorimetry
which utilizes the law of heat exchange where the amount of heat given up by the hot
body is equal to the amount of the heat absorbed by the cold body. The amount of heat
needed to change the phase of unit mass without any change in the temperature is called
latent heat.
Also, from the equation and after the experiment, we can say that heat absorb by
the metal depends on the property of the metal to absorb heat. The more heat it absorb
the lesser the specific heat of that metal. They are inversely proportional to each other.
Another thing is mass of ice is inversely proportional to the latent heat. The more
weight the ice contain, the lesser the latent heat of fusion.