Physics Laboratory Report

Laboratory 10

Title: Projectile Motion

Date: November 16 , 2018

Session: PhysLab 8

Group #6

Abstract
 In accordance with the principles of thermodynamics, it is possible to obtain data about the
material of body which was used in experiment. The purpose of this laboratory experiment was mainly
focused on calculation of specific heat of an unknown liquid and latent heat of ice with the finding out the
material of an object. During the first part of the experiment, we tried to calculate the systematic and
statistical errors caused in temperature measurements. Then, in the next part, we recorded the
temperature change after adding hot water to an unknown liquid in order calculate the specific heat of
this liquid. In the third part of this experiment, the same process of adding hot water was repeated with
ice, in which the latent heat was calculated. As a result, the obtained calculations of specific and latent
heat and we supposed that the cylinder in the experiment was from iron.

Introduction
Calorimetry is the process connected with identifying the changes of energy in the system by
measuring the heat exchange with the surrounding, whether it is absorbed or released [1]. For this
process we use calorimeter which is isolated from environment body which allows us to keep the
temperature with low losses. With the help of this device we determine the heat capacity of different
materials [2]. Moreover, it helps us to measure how much temperature is transferred to or from an
object. In this experiment we will use calorimeter in order to find the heat transfer. First, we try to identify
the specific heat of the liquid and the body. Then, by adding an ice to the hot water we will measure the
latent heat of ice. To achieve these goals, we have several objectives:
● To find out the temperature changes in different cases
● To identify the specific heat of the unknown liquid
● To find the latent heat of an ice
● To compare theoretical values with the experimental one
Experimental description
In this laboratory work we used calorimeters (Styrofoam cups) with the lid and thermometer in
order to find out the change in temperature of different objects. For this experiment we had three parts;
in the first part we identified the specific heat of a liquid by measuring the temperature several times. The
second part was similar to the first one, but in this case we added hot water to the water with the room
temperature and tried to identify the specific heat. In the third part we added an ice to the hot water and
measured the temperature. Then, by this action we could calculate the latent heat of an ice.

Experimental data
Table 1. Data from Part 1

Therm # 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Stdev Stdev

Temperature (°C)

Systematic Person 1 23.1 23.0 24.0 23.3 25.0 23.1 24.1 24.5 24.1 25.0 0.769 0.151
error
Person 2 23.0 23.0 23.9 23.3 24.3 24.0 24.1 24.0 24.2 24.8 0.585

Person 3 23.0 24.1 23.9 23.9 24.3 23.8 24.2 24.1 24.1 24.3 0.380

Person 4 25.1 23.4 23.8 23.7 24.3 23.9 24.2 24.1 24.0 24.7 0.494

Person 5 23.1 24.2 23.9 23.8 24.4 23.9 24.3 24.1 24.0 24.8 0.445

Person 6 23.0 23.0 24.0 23.0 24.5 24.0 24.0 24.0 24.2 24.8 0.642

Person 7 23.0 22.9 23.8 23.2 24.2 23.7 24.9 24.0 24.9 24.9 0.776
 Person 8 22.9 22.8 24.1 23.9 25.0 24.0 24.8 24.5 24.5 25.1 0.800

Person 9 23.0 23.0 24.1 23.9 24.2 24.1 24.8 24.5 24.5 24.9 0.660

Person 10 23.0 24.1 23.9 23.9 24.3 23.8 24.2 24.1 24.1 24.9 0.474

Measurement Our group 27.5 27.5 27.5 27.5 28.5 28.0 28.5 28.0 28.5 28.5 0.471
error

Systematic Ice 2.5 3.2 3.5 3.2 4.5 3.9 3.8 4.0 4.0 4.0 0.570
uncertainty

Table 2. Data from Part 2.1

mass of cup, m​0, ​(10​-3​ kg) 43.1±0.05

mass with liquid, m​1, ​(10​-3​ kg) 202.2±0.05

t of liquid, T​l, (˚C)

​ 23

-3​
mass of liquid+hot water, m​2, (10​
​ kg) 331.9

t of only hot water, T​w, ​(˚C) 77

t of liquid+hot water, T​f, (˚C)

​ 51

Table 3. Data from Part 2.2

Mass of cylinder, m_dry, (g) 225.6±0.05

Mass of the cup, m_cup, (g) 45.9±0.05

Mass of room temperature water with cup+cylinder, m0, (g) 328.2±0.05

 Initial temperature, t_f_0, (˚C) 24±0.893

Table 4. Data from Part 2.2

Iteration# 1 2 3 4 5

Temperature of hot water, t h_i, (˚C) 77 75 88 88 88

Mass of the water added, m wa_i, (g) 43.6 9.1 10 19.9 14.7

Total amount of the water in the cup , m wt_i, (g) 100.3 109.4 119.4 139.3 154

Final temperature, t f_i, (˚C) 43 45 46.5 49 50

Table 5. Data from Part 3.0

Mass of the Mass with hot Temperature Mass of the hot Mass with hot Mass of the ice, , Final water
empty water, (g) of the hot water, , (g) water and ice, , (g) temperature
calorimeter with water in the (g) with ice and
a cup and a calorimeter, hot water,
thermometer, , (˚C) (˚C)
(g)

46.5 266.2 93 219.7 275.5 9.3 85

Data analysis
Part 1
The single error for the T is calculated by combining measurement error, systematic uncertainty and instrumental
error.
Part 2.1
, where Q is energy change (the object whether obtains or release it), c is the value of specific heat
and it depends on the material used, m is the mass of the object and T is temperature change.

where m​x​ is the mass of the liquid added, and c​x​ can be found. The minus sign is there because as water cool down,
its change in temperature is negative.

This part of experiment was conducted very accurate with little error due to impossibility of taking 100 percent true
values of all the data used in calculations. The error of apparatus’ scale results a tiny error of the final specific heat
value obtained.

Part 2.2
Part 3

Discussion
In the first part of experiment, the value of uncertainty of system was 0.151. This means that this part of
lab was very precise. Also, it can be explained by low loss of thermal energy and accurate
implementation of the measuring devices. However, in the second part we had to measure the
temperature and the mass with some iteration, which caused the higher loss of heat compared to the
first part. In order to record the temperature we had to open the cap and measure it with thermometer,
and frequent recordings obviously lead to decreasing in amount of temperature. In the third part of this
experiment it can be said that it was close to the second part. But here mainly vulnerability was the time
we have expended, we had to wait until the ice is fully melt and the temperature was stabilized.
Moreover, the reason also could be that the hot water could get cold faster than in previous parts.

Conclusion
The aim of the lab was to show the principles of heat transformation between different objects with the
help of measuring the temperature in calorimeter. During the experiments, the needed data was
measured, and this was applied further to define specific and latent heat values. The values were
compared with a theoretical data. The uncertainty for temperature, specific heat value of liquid unknown
as well as latent heat of the ice were defined.
There are some errors such as random errors to consider. Firstly, hot water was cooled in a fast way,
but the very first values recorded were used. In addition, the error to record values incorrectly also
should be considered in the experiment. The goal was achieved and to achieve better results more
careful work should be enhanced.
Reference
1. Calorimeters and Calorimetry. T​ he Physics Classroom​. Retrieved from
https://www.physicsclassroom.com/class/thermalP/Lesson-2/Calorimeters-and-Calorimetry
2. Specific Heat. (2011). ​Science Direct​. Retrieved from
https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/chemical-engineering/specific-heat