TITLE:

T1: TEMPERATURE MEASUREMENT AND CALIBRATION.

THEORY:
The response of a temperature sensitive device to a step change in temperature
varies according to the type of the device. Sheathing around the sensor can also
affect the response, as both of the sensor and the sheath must reach thermal
equilibrium with the object of interest before meaningful measurements of
temperature can be made. The accuracy of a reading will be affected if the sensor
has not had sufficient time to achieve thermal equilibrium with the object of
interest: the output signal from the sensor will be unsteady.

OBJECTIVE:
To investigate the response of temperature sensing devices to sudden changes in
temperature.

APPARATUS:
1. Temperature measurement and calibration unit.

PROCEDURE:
1. The heater and stirrer is switched on. The heater power is increased to
maximum.
2. The heater is switched off when the reference thermometer indicates a value
significantly higher than the temperature in the water bath where the sensor under
investigation is placed.
3. The reading for the sensor under investigation is taken. The temperature
indicated by the PT100 reference thermometer inside the water bath, T1 is noted.

4. The sensor carrier from the water bath to the insulated flask is quickly
transferred.
5. The sensor reading is recorded at a consistent time interval. Stop recording
when the sensor reading has stabilized.
6. The temperature reading shown by the PT100 reference thermometer inside the
insulated flask, T2 is recorded.

RESULTS
Table 1: Table of the time taken and the temperature for T1.
Time (s)

Temperature (C)

0.94

1.46

10

10.02

15

33.77

20

48.20

25

57.49

30

63.55

35

67.51

40

69.92

45

71.62

50

72.69

55

73.15

60

73.53

65

73.65

70

73.80

75

73.81

80

73.87

85

73.96

90

73.97

Table 2: Table of the time taken and the temperature for T2.
Time (s)

Temperature (C)

0.64

0.89

10

11.79

15

34.66

20

46.89

25

56.97

30

61.94

35

66.08

40

68.62

45

69.79

50

70.68

55

71.21

60

71.58

65

71.71

70

71.87

75

71.90

80

71.95

85

72.02

90

72.02

95

71.98

100

72.04

105

72.02

110

72.02

115

71.95

120

71.95

Graph of time taken against the temperature

for T1.
100
y = 0.7583x + 23.083

90

Time (s)

80
70
60
50
40
30
20
10
0
0

20

40

60

Temperature

80

100

(C)

Graph 1: Graph of time taken against the temperature for T1.

Time (s)

Graph of time taken against the temperature

for T2
100
90
80
70
60
50
40
30
20
10
0

y = 0.4608x + 32.162

20

40

60

80

Temperature

100

120

(C)

Graph 2: Graph of time taken against the temperature for T2.

140

DISCUSSIONS:
1. Based from the tables recorded and the graphs plotted, it shows that the
temperature sensor 2, T2 is more sensitive than the temperature sensor 1,
T1. This is because, as we can see from the graphs plotted below, the value
of slope in graph 2 is lower than the value of slope in graph 1. The lower
the value of slope, the higher the sensitivity of the temperature sensor.
Therefore, temperature sensor T2 is more accurate than temperature sensor
T1.

2. a.

Dennis Yii anak Keding (44904)

i.

Ensure that the right cable is plugged in for sensor 1 and 2.

ii.

Make sure that the temperature of water bath is just above

60C when the reading is taken.

b.

Hillary Assan anak Liam (42124)

i.

Always turn on the stirrer so that both of the sensor and the
sheath reach thermal equilibrium.

ii.

Make sure the sensor has sufficient time to achieve thermal

equilibrium to ensure the accuracy of the reading.

c.

Mohammad Iskandar Zulkarnain b. Roslan (42188)

i.

Make sure the ice and the water does not contain too much
impurities, as impurities can affect the temperature
achieved in the end, which will cause errors in data reading.

ii.

The ice and water container in the experiment should have

insulator, to minimise heat loss to the surrounding.

d.

Phillip Mapang anak Angking (43732)

i.

Close the water path to make sure the heat from outside
(surrounding) would not distract the temperature inside the
water bath.

ii.

Using the maximum power of the stirrer so the heat can be

stabilized quickly.

e.

Terence Empurai anak Andap (44422)

i.

Immediately place the temperature sensor onto the heater

for more accurate reading.

ii.

Use two stopwatches and record video to take the reading

of the changes in temperature to make comparison.

CONCLUSION
From the experiment, it shows that the temperature sensor 2, T2 is more sensitive
and therefore more accurate than the temperature sensor 1, T1. In order to
determine the higher sensitivity of the sensor, the slope of the graph should be
lower.

REFERENCES
1. Cengel, Y.A., Boles, M. A. (2011). Thermodynamics: An Engineering
Approach (Seventh Edition in SI Units). New York, NY: McGraw Hill.
2. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Temperature_measurement
3. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rule_of_thumb
4. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Calibration