Observations and Discussion

k1
heating
30% 122.3776
50% 155.0205
70% 199.3007

k2
heating
k1 water
274.9591 68.8141
344.9683 107.9976
424.3176 128.2051

dev1
dev2
dev1
dev2
k2 water heater heater
water water
154.6121
240.3279 2.3487
2.3709 1.6363 1.6517
272.9529

It can be seen that the experimental values vary from the actual values for the materials. Also the K
values and standard deviations for the heating source were significantly higher than the
corresponding K values and standard deviations when heat was absorbed by water. Another
observation is that the thermal conductivity values have been increased as the power was increased.
Possible discrepancies between the K values and standard deviations for both elements under both
heating source and heat absorption by water can be due to the following reasons.
1. The temperatures being read were not accurate as they constantly fluctuated
2. The parallax errors caused when measuring the volume of water collected in the measuring
cup
3. Human errors when measuring time
4. Heat losses from the water container
5. Heating components not fully submerged in water
6. Power generated by heat source is dissipated as heat by the resistance of wires and
connectors
7. The change in material properties in heat transfer
For both cases material 1 always showed lesser value for thermal conductivity compared to material
2. So it can be concluded that material one is aluminium with a thermal conductivity of 190W/m.K
and material 2 is copper with a higher thermal conductivity of 384W/m.K

50%
Run
V
I
Qh

Units
(v)
(A)
(w)

Water
collected
Time
Mw
Tw,1
Tw,2
Qc
T1
T2
T3
T4
K1 heat
K2 heat
k1- heat
k1 heat
k2- heat
k2 heat
k1' water
k2' water
k1-' water
k1' water
k2-' water
k2' water

L
s
Kg/s
c
c
(w)
c
c
c
c
(w/mk)
(w/mk)
(w/mk)
(w/mk)
(w/mk)
(w/mk)
(w/mk)
(w/mk)
(w/mk)
(w/mk)
(w/mk)
(w/mk)

1
135
0.8
108

2
135
0.8
108

3
135
0.8
108

4
135
0.8
108

0.18
0.18
0.18
0.18
20
20
20
20
0.009
0.009
0.009
0.009
17
17
17
17
19
19
19
19
75.24
75.24
75.24
75.24
79.1
79
79
79
66
65.5
65.5
65.5
58.8
58.6
58.6
58.6
44.4
44.2
44
44.2
158.5437 153.8462 153.8462 153.8462
346.1538 346.1538 341.412 346.1538
155.020552
2.348796242
344.9683878
2.370916754
110.4521 107.1795 107.1795 107.1795
241.1538 241.1538 237.8504 241.1538
107.9976512
1.636328049
240.3279768
1.651738672

70%

30%
Run
V
I
Qh

Units
(v)
(A)
(w)

1
70
0.4
28

Run
V
I
Qh

Units
(v)
(A)
(w)

1
190
1.2
228

Water
collected
Time
Mw
Tw,1
Tw,2
Qc
T1
T2
T3
T4
K1 heat
K2 heat
k1' water
k2' water

L
s
Kg/s
c
c
(w)
c
c
c
c
(w/mk)
(w/mk)
(w/mk)
(w/mk)

0.0565
30
0.001883
19
21
15.74467
41.6
37.2
34.82
30.12
122.3776
274.9591
68.8141
154.6121

Water
collected
Time
Mw
Tw,1
Tw,2
Qc
T1
T2
T3
T4
K1 heat
K2 heat
k1' water
k2' water

L
s
Kg/s
c
c
(w)
c
c
c
c
(w/mk)
(w/mk)
(w/mk)
(w/mk)

0.1
11.4
0.008772
17
21
146.6667
119
97
87.3
62.5
199.3007
424.3176
128.2051
272.9529