TITLE

TO DETERMINE THE VALUE OF STEFAN BOLTZMAN CONSTANT

THROUHGH HEAT TRANSFER IN BLACKBODY VIA RADIATION
OBJECTIVE

To determine the value of Stefan Boltzmann constant

APPARATUS REQUIRED

Stefan Boltzmann’s apparatus

Stopwatch

A suitable black body which can be connected at the bottom of the metal
hemisphere

THEORY

All bodies ( including human beings ) emit electromagnetic radiation. The

wavelength of radiation emitted depends on the temperature of the objects. A
black body is a hypothetical body that absorbs all the electromagnetic radiation
incident on its surface ( without reflection ) and then, depending on the
temperature, emits its own thermal radiation. The thermal radiation emitted is
also in the form of electromagnetic radiation and doesn’t require any medium for
propagation. The wavelength of the thermal radiation varies from 0.1 to 100 µm.
The term ‘emissivity’ determines how well a body/surface emits thermal
radiation. An ideal emitter has an emissivity of 1 whereas, a poor emitter has an
emissivity 0.

Magnitude of radiation heat exchange between two practical bodies is given by

Stefan Boltzmann law, which states that “The amount of radiation
emitted/radiated per unit surface area of a blackbody across all wavelengths per
unit time is directly proportional to the fourth power of the absolute
temperature” i.e
Q = εσA [ ( T1 )4 – ( T2 )4 ] …………..( 1 ) where ; Q = Heat transfer rate

ε = Emissivity ( 1 for
blackbody )

σ = Stefan Boltzmann
constant whose

value is 5.67x10-8
Wm-2K-4

A = Surface area

Now, we have another equation from thermodynamics for heat transfer as,

Q = m Cp (dT/dt) …….……….( 2 ) Where ; Cp = Molar heat capacity at

const. pressure

m = mass of the disc

From equation ( 1 ) and ( 2 ), we get :

εσA [ ( T1 )4 – ( T2 )4 ] = m Cp (dT/dt)

hence, σ = m x Cp x (dT/dt)

A x [ ( T 1 )4 – ( T 2 )4 ]

The apparatus consists of hemisphere fixed on non conducting backelite plate.

The outer surface of copper hemisphere is enclosed in a metallic water jacket.
Water is heated in a small water tank with the help of the heater. The copper
hemisphere is heated with the help of the hot water from this tank. The small
copper disk is mounted on a backelite sleeve fitted in a hole drilled in the center
of the base plate. The disk is covered with lamp black so as to act as black body.
The temperature of the hemisphere and the test disc is measured with the help
of thermometers.

PROCEDURE

At first, all the valves were closed and the heater tank was filled with water. The
lid was closed and the electric supply was set up. The desired water temperature
was set in Direct Temperature Control ( DTC ) by necessary increment /
decrement. The heater was kept on until the water reached the desired
temperature. The valve was opened and the hemisphere was filled with the
heated water till it got completely filled. Then, observation of the rise in the
temperature of the hemisphere was done. When the temperature of the
hemisphere reached maximum, the value was noted as ( T 1 ). Then the copper test
disc was introduced at the center of the hemisphere. After placing the disc, the
channel was immediately switched to T2 channel in multichannel digital
temperature indicator and the temperature of the disc was noted at intervals of 5
second. This process was carried out 5 times, and the values was shared among 3
teams. Each team calculated the value of Stefan Boltzmann constant was
calculated by taking the any 3 of the observed data into consideration.

OBSERVATION

Mass of the disc ( m ) = 0.0051 kg, Diameter of the disc ( d ) = 0.02 m, C p = 4186
J/Kg °C

Readings of 1 [ T1 = 68.7 °C = 341.7 K , T2 = 31.5 °C = 304.5 K ]

OBSERVATION TABLE OF READING 1 :

S.N. TIME TEMPERATURE S.N. TIME TEMPERATURE

( t sec ) ( T °C ) ( t sec ) ( T °C )
 1. 5 31.7 19. 95 32.7

2. 10 31.7 20. 100 32.8

3. 15 31.8 21. 105 32.8

4. 20 31.9 22. 110 32.9

5. 25 31.9 23. 115 32.9

6. 30 32.0 24. 120 33.0

7. 35 32.0 25. 125 33.1

8. 40 32.1 26. 130 33.2

9. 45 32.2 27. 135 33.2

10. 50 32.2 28. 140 33.2

11. 55 32.3 29. 145 33.2

12. 60 32.3 30. 150 33.3

13. 65 32.4 31. 155 33.4

14. 70 32.4 32. 160 33.5

15. 75 32.5 33. 165 33.6

16. 80 32.5 34. 170 33.6

17. 85 32.6 35. 175 33.7

18. 90 32.7 36. 180 33.7

Readings of 4
T1 = 70.5 °C = 343.5 K

T2 = 32.8 °C = 305.8 K

OBSERVATION TABLE OF READING 4 :

S.N. TIME TEMPERATURE S.N. TIME TEMPERATURE

( t sec ) ( T °C ) ( t sec ) ( T °C )

1. 5 32.9 19. 95 33.9

2. 10 32.9 20. 100 33.9

3. 15 33.0 21. 105 34.0

4. 20 33.0 22. 110 34.0

5. 25 33.1 23. 115 34.1

6. 30 33.2 24. 120 34.2

7. 35 33.3 25. 125 34.3

8. 40 33.3 26. 130 34.3

9. 45 33.4 27. 135 34.4

10. 50 33.4 28. 140 34.5

11. 55 33.5 29. 145 34.5

12. 60 33.6 30. 150 34.6

13. 65 33.6 31. 155 34.6

14. 70 33.7 32. 160 34.7

15. 75 33.7 33. 165 34.7

16. 80 33.7 34. 170 34.8

17. 85 33.8 35. 175 34.9

18. 90 33.8 36. 180 34.9

Readings of 5
T1 = 72.5 °C = 345.5 K

T2 = 34.3 °C = 307.3 K

OBSERVATION TABLE OF READING 5 :

S.N. TIME TEMPERATURE S.N. TIME TEMPERATURE

( t sec ) ( T °C ) ( t sec ) ( T °C )

1. 5 34.3 19. 95 35.4

2. 10 34.4 20. 100 35.4

3. 15 34.5 21. 105 35.5

4. 20 34.6 22. 110 35.5

5. 25 34.6 23. 115 35.6

6. 30 34.7 24. 120 35.6

7. 35 34.7 25. 125 35.6

8. 40 34.8 26. 130 35.7

9. 45 34.8 27. 135 35.7

10. 50 34.9 28. 140 35.8

11. 55 34.9 29. 145 35.8

12. 60 35.0 30. 150 35.9

13. 65 35.0 31. 155 35.9

14. 70 35.1 32. 160 36.0

15. 75 35.1 33. 165 36.0

16. 80 35.2 34. 170 36.1

17. 85 35.3 35. 175 36.2

18. 90 35.3 36. 180 36.2

CALCULATIONS

Calculations related to reading 1 :

34

33.5

33

32.5

32

31.5

31

30.5
0 20 40 60 80 100 120 140 160 180 200

Slope = ( y2 -y1 ) = ( 32.5 – 32 ) = 0.01

( x 2 – x1 ) ( 80 – 35 )
 σ = m x Cp x (dT/dt)

A x [ ( T 1 )4 – ( T 2 )4 ]

= 0.0051 x 4186 x 0.01

3.14 x ( 0.02 )2 x [ ( 341.7 )4 – ( 304.5 )4 ]

K1 = 1.35 x 10-7 Wm-2K-4

Calculations related to reading 4 :

35.5

35

34.5

34

33.5

33

32.5

32

31.5
0 20 40 60 80 100 120 140 160 180 200

Slope = ( y2 -y1 ) = ( 34 - 33.6 ) = 0.0088

 ( x 2 – x1 ) ( 110 - 65)

σ = m x Cp x (dT/dt)

A x [ ( T 1 )4 – ( T 2 )4 ]

= 0.0051 x 4186 x 0.0088

3.14 x ( 0.02 )2 x [ ( 343.5 )4 – ( 305.8 )4 ]

K2 = 1.15 x 10-7 Wm-2K-4

Calculations related to reading 5 :

36.5

36

35.5

35

34.5

34

33.5

33
0 20 40 60 80 100 120 140 160 180 200
Slope = ( y2 -y1 ) = ( 35.5 – 35 ) = 0.011

( x 2 – x1 ) ( 110 - 65)

σ = m x Cp x (dT/dt)

A x [ ( T 1 )4 – ( T 2 )4 ]

= 0.0051 x 4186 x 0.011

3.14 x ( 0.02 )2 x [ ( 345.5 )4 – ( 307.3 )4 ]

K3 = 1.40 x 10-7 Wm-2K-4

RESULT

The value of Stefan Boltzmann constant calculated by team C ( K C )

= Average of K1, K2 and K3

= 1.35 x 10-7 + 1.15 x 10-7 + 1.40 x 10-7

= 1.3 x 10-7 Wm-2K-4

Simlarly, the value of Stefan Boltzmann constant calculated by team A ( K A ) =

and team B ( KB ) =

Hence the final value of Stefan Boltzmann constant ( K ) was found to be =

Average of KA, KB and KC, i.e

 CONCLUSION

Using the various parameters, and various observations. We can conclude that, in
this way the value of Stefan Boltzmann constant can be determined through heat
transfer in blackbody via radiation with the help of Stefan Boltzmann’s apparatus.

DISCUSSION

In this lab, we determined the value of Stefan Boltzmann’s constant with the help
of Stefan Boltzmann’s apparatus. It consists of a hemisphere fixed to a bakelite
plate and the copper test disc is introduced at the center of the hemisphere. The
temperature reading of the plate and the disc is noted after observation. For the
calculation of ( dT/dt ) the temperature T2 was noted in the interval of 5 seconds
for a total of 3 minute time duration. After the experiment was conducted, the
calculation Stefan Boltzmann’s constant was done.

SOURCES OF ERROR

Any sort of leaks in the apparatus.

Improper insulation of the pipes and valves.

Carelessness while noting the temperature readings and other data.

Presence of any type of medium ( like air ) inside the vacuum compartment of
hemisphere.

PRECAUTIONS

The water should be allowed to flow only after the disc is removed from the
bottom.
The temperature should be allowed to reach steady state before the
temperature readings T1 and T2 are noted down.

The disc should be properly fitted in the bottom compartment.

Proper insulation should be provided in the pipes and valves.

The values should be properly closed / opened.

The apparatus should be handled carefully.