How do you measure the transfer of heat

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To measure the transfer of heat from a heater to a solid, it is essential to assume that all the power from the heater, measured in watts, is directed entirely to the solid without any energy loss to the environment. In this ideal scenario, watts can be converted to joules per second, allowing for the calculation of energy transferred by multiplying the heater's power by the duration it operates. The fundamental principle is that the energy lost by the heater equals the energy gained by the solid. This relationship can be expressed using the formula Q = (mass of the solid) * (specific heat capacity of the solid) * (rise in temperature), where Q represents the heat transfer. This approach is suitable for basic physics calculations, though real-world applications will typically involve some energy loss.
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*eh hem*, this is my first post in this forum and i have a query on heat transfusion, i think i have the right forum though.

how do you measure the transfer of heat from a heater of certain watt's to a solid of certain mass?

thank you in advance,
ben
 
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FIrst, you have to make a huge assumption that the "watts" (this is the power of the heater) is going entirely into the thing being heated, and none of the energy is leaking into the atmosphere or anything else. For beginner physics this is OK, although int he real world you can be guaranteed that some energy will go elsewhere.

So, since "watts" is the same thing as "joules per second", then you multiply "watts" times the number of seconds that heater is on. Heat is the transfer of thermal energy. Power times times equals energy.
 
well in a perfect system

energy lost by your heater = energy gained by the solid
Q = (Mass of solid)*(specific heat capacity of solid)*(rise in temp)
 
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