Lab exploring tIV=mcΔT (water heated using heating coil)

  • Thread starter Thread starter clarissalehne
  • Start date Start date
  • Tags Tags
    Coil Heating Lab
AI Thread Summary
The lab focused on determining the specific heat capacity of water by heating 100ml with a 4A current through a heating coil, resulting in a temperature rise that plateaued just below 100 degrees Celsius. The initial expectation was that the graph of IV (current times voltage) against ΔT (change in temperature) would be linear, but it instead followed a logarithmic regression. The researcher noted that plotting IV against LN(ΔT) yielded a linear graph, prompting questions about the data's validity and the nature of the relationship. Clarifications were sought regarding the definitions of time (t) and temperature (T) in the experiment. The discussion emphasizes the need for understanding the relationship between these variables to accurately calculate the specific heat capacity.
clarissalehne
Messages
3
Reaction score
0
Specific Heat Capacity Lab

I conducted a lab where I heated 100ml of water using a heating coil with a current of 4A passing through it. The temperature data turned out beautifully, with the temperature rising evenly until it plateaued just under 100 degrees celsius as it began to change phase.

My aim was to find the specific heat capacity of the water by graphing IV (current times voltage) against ΔT (change in temperature) as this would give me a slope equal to mc/t.

Theory:
P=VI
P/t=Q
Q=tVI
Q=mcΔT

--> tVI=mcΔT

Strangely though, the graph of IV vs. ΔT is not linear but follows a logarithmic regression. When I plot IV vs. LN(ΔT) I get a linear graph. How can I find a slope that I can use to find the specific heat capacity? Also, is there something wrong with my data? Should the relationship be linear?
 
Last edited:
Physics news on Phys.org
Even though I don't know how you did what you did, I will try to help you. What kind of time is t in your expression? The time required for what to happen?
 
t was my independent variable. I monitored how the temperature of the water increased over time t. Does that make sense?
 
So t = 0 is when you started heating and t is some later time when the temperature of the water reached value T. Is that so?
 
T is the dependent. I think I have about a hundred values for each. T keeps increasing until it reaches the boiling of water.
 
clarissalehne said:
T is the dependent. I think I have about a hundred values for each. T keeps increasing until it reaches the boiling of water.
Please answer my questions

1. Is t the overall time from when the experiment started to when the water reached some intermediate temperature between the initial and the boiling point?

2. Is T the temperature at time t as defined above?

A simple "yes" or "no" to each of the two questions above is sufficient at this point. As I said, I am trying to understand what you did and what your symbols mean.
 

Thread 'Struggling to understand the concept of this question (ice cube in water optics question)'

TL;DR Summary: I came across this question from a Sri Lankan A-level textbook. Question - An ice cube with a length of 10 cm is immersed in water at 0 °C. An observer observes the ice cube from the water, and it seems to be 7.75 cm long. If the refractive index of water is 4/3, find the height of the ice cube immersed in the water. I could not understand how the apparent height of the ice cube in the water depends on the height of the ice cube immersed in the water. Does anyone have an...
View full post »
Thread 'Variable mass system : water sprayed into a moving container'

Thread 'Variable mass system : water sprayed into a moving container'

Starting with the mass considerations #m(t)# is mass of water #M_{c}# mass of container and #M(t)# mass of total system $$M(t) = M_{C} + m(t)$$ $$\Rightarrow \frac{dM(t)}{dt} = \frac{dm(t)}{dt}$$ $$P_i = Mv + u \, dm$$ $$P_f = (M + dm)(v + dv)$$ $$\Delta P = M \, dv + (v - u) \, dm$$ $$F = \frac{dP}{dt} = M \frac{dv}{dt} + (v - u) \frac{dm}{dt}$$ $$F = u \frac{dm}{dt} = \rho A u^2$$ from conservation of momentum , the cannon recoils with the same force which it applies. $$\quad \frac{dm}{dt}...
View full post »

Similar threads

Specific heat capacity and latent heat
Replies
2
Views
299
First Law of Thermo: Audience body heat warming a concert hall
Replies
25
Views
1K
I try to solve a thermodynamics problem on heat transfer
Replies
3
Views
2K
Question about thermal physics -- Ice cubes melting in water
Replies
8
Views
3K
Question about Phase Change & Latent Heat
Replies
13
Views
3K
Mass of vapor per hour for heating water
Replies
2
Views
1K
Calorimetry Lab Analysis (predict specific heat of unknown metal)
2
Replies
54
Views
8K
Calorimetry - finding the final temperature of a system of ice and water
Replies
7
Views
2K
Calculate energy required to heat water using a steam coil
Replies
9
Views
3K
How much water evaporates per minute from a copper pot on a stove?
Replies
4
Views
1K

Hot Threads

Recent Insights

Back
Top