Measurements of Thermal Expansion and Density.

APSC 182 Matter and Energy

Date: 07/10/2024

Berlin Sanchez (22414882) & Bolin pan (95800348)

Submission Date: 14/10/2024

Instructor’s name: Dr. Vladan Prodanovic

Abstract

This experiment is divided into two parts. In part 1 the principal objective is to determinate
the heat capacity (c) of two metals samples, aluminum (Al), and tungsten (W). these is done
by weighing and heating each piece of metal up to 100 °C (using a steam generator) and
determining the change in temperature of water (inside of a calorimeter) after putting the
heated metal sample in it. The experimental values for (c) obtained are 0.1106 for tungsten
and 0.8139 for aluminum. For the experimental values it was concluded that they closely
align with the theoretical predictions. However, they are lower than expected.

In part 2, the objective is to determinate the thermal conductivity of two solid materials,
choosing among glass, Plexiglas, sheetrock, plywood, and Masonite. this procedure is
carried out by positioning the selected material onto a thermal conductivity apparatus, and
placing an Ice block in a plastic mold on top of it, this allows for the measurement of the
ice block's melting rate, both at ambient temperature and when indirectly heated by a steam
generator connected to the thermal conductivity apparatus. In this case the experimental
values obtained for thermal conductivity k where 0.34 for sample (glass) 1 and 0.13 for
sample 2 (Plexiglas). Consequently, after comparing with the theoretical results it turns out
that experimental results are lower than expected.

Part: 1

To measure the temperature changes in water a calorimeter was used. A calorimeter is a

well-insulated system, that makes possible the measurement of heat transfers during certain
processes. On the other hand, weight measurements for the calorimeter and the metal
samples were obtained from a balance. The weight of the calorimeter was measured twice:
first, when it was empty, and then when it was filled with water. So that the water’s weight
can be obtained by subtracting the mass of the empty calorimeter from the mass of the
calorimeter with water.
Table 1 presented below shows the metal samples mass and the change in temperature of
water after absorbing heat from each sample. As you can see of the two samples aluminum
has the highest change in water temperature with a ΔT of 11°C although it’s not as heavy as
tungsten, this interesting discrepancy can be explained in a scientifically way by referring to the
thermal capacity. thermal capacity is the among of energy needed to rise the temperature of a
material by one degree Celsius [1]. Consequently, the thermal capacity of aluminum is expected to
be higher than tungsten’s thermal capacity, and so it does, the experimental results obtained were
.8139 ± .00005 for Aluminum and 0.1106 ± .00005 for tungsten, which means that the heat
contained in the tungsten sample it’s not enough to overcome the heat capacity of water which is
𝐽
4.184 [2].
𝑔∗°𝐶

Sample Sample mass Sample temp. i water temp. F water temp.

(g) (°C) (°C) (°C)
Tungsten 227.59 100 22 24
Aluminum 198.91 100 24 35
Table 1 change in water temperature in function of the metal samples temperature.

Table 2 compares the experimental and theoretical results of thermal capacity for both
aluminum and tungsten. In contrast they are closely related with a 9.56% of deviation for
aluminum and 20.43% for tungsten. These deviation percentages may have originate from
technical complications during the perform of lab two.

Samples Experimental values Theoretical values Deviation %

for (c) for (c)
𝐽 𝐽
In 𝑔∗°𝐶 In 𝑔∗°𝐶

Aluminum .8139 ± .00005 0.90 9.56%

Tungsten 0.1106 ± .00005 0.134 20.43%
Table 2 comparison between theoretical and experimental values. [3]
While the deviation percentage is relatively minor, the balance's precision may have affected the
results due to its sensitivity to external factors. As a result, considering ± .005 as the balance’s rate
of error, this could have impacted negatively the precision of the data. However, another
complication involved was the shape of the samples, due to each sample’s shape and water’s
superficial tension, every time a sample was taken from the calorimeter a small among of
water was carried away too, which could have negatively impacted the accuracy of the
results.

To enhance the accuracy of the results, the cylindrical shape of the samples can be modified to a
conical minimizing the among of water carried away. Also, giving the balance a good maintenance
and calibration before measurements it’s a good idea.

Part 2

To measure the thermal conductive of the two sample,the Steam generator be used to
supply the energy and heat.And the Thermal conductivity apparatus is the place which use
clamps to fix the sample keeping in inclination state.Puting the ice block with mould on the
sample.When the ice melt,the water will across the channel to the beaker.using the banlance
to weight the mass of the water and receive total heat by steam generator.After that, To
measure the sample diameter before the heat and after the heat take these date in
average.which can measure the contect area between the sample and the ice. Using the
Caliper to measure the thickness of the sample .therefore,the thermal conductive can be
caculate.

Table2 (1) Ice melting in ambient

inital finial Average Mass Mass Contec Heat Time

diamete diamete diammete cw(g) w(g) t ennerg take
r(mm) r(mm) r(mm) area(m y(J) n(mi
m^2) n)
Ambie 78.2 77.4 77.8 83.29 9.93 4753 3316.6 5
nt 2
 Table 2(1) illustrate the energy transform from enviroment to the sample,As seen in this
table,the ambient melting rate is showed .The inital diameter of ice is 78.2mm.after 5 min
melting ,the finial value is 77.4mm and taking average value between inital and finial
diameter is the 77.8mm and the area of sample contect the melting of ice is 4753mm^2.so
the water mass can be calculate which is 9.93g.After this process heat energy by ambient is
3316.62J.

Table(2) ice melting on sample

Tickness(mm) Inital Fininal Mass Mass Area(mm^2) Time

diameter(mm)
diameter(mm) cw(g) w(g) taken(min)

Sample1 10.2 77.6 76.0 97.50 24.14 4632.46 5

Sample2 10.3 75.9 73.9 88.16 14.80 4406.09 5

The table 2(2) showed the energy transform from heat gernertor to the ice in two
samples.The initial diameter of the ice is 77.6 mm. After 5 minutes,the diameter of the ice
is observed decreasing to76.0mm.taking average value between inital and finial diameter is
the 76.8mm. Area of sample contect the melting of ice is 4632.46mm^2.The water with
beaker of mass is 97.5g and the empty beaker of weight is 73.36g,so the water mass can be
calculate which is 24.14g.After this process, the heat energy provided by the steam and the
ambient temperature is 8062. 76J.steam generator provide 4746.14J to the sample 1Thermal
conductivit is 0.34W/(m*K).The sample 2 have 10.3mm of thickness and it is a type of
plastic.The ice diameter is 75.9mm before the experiment. After the experiment the
diameter 73.9mm.74.9mm is the average of the diameter.the mass of the water with beaker
is 88.16g and 14.8g is the water mass.the,heat energy by steam and ambient that is
5091.20J. steam generator provide 1774.58J after the calculation ,Thermal conductivit is
0.13W/(m*K).
Table 2 also compare with the thermal conductive experiment value and theoretical
value,the sample 1 is type of glass and the theoretical value is 1.0W/(m*K)[4]which is 66%
of the devation the between experimential value.Sample 2 is composed of a plastic material
known as Plexiglas. This material has a theoretical value of 0.19 W/(m*K)[5], with a
deviation of 31% between the two values, which is lower than that observed in Sample 1.

There are some situation may cause the devation,because the steam generator need use the
pipe to transform the steam. So some of the steam may convert in to the droplet.When the
steam transform from pipe the temperature may decrease in the Thermal conductivity
apparatus.Additionally,if there is poor contact between the ice and the sample plate, it can
lead to uneven heat conduction.therefore the shape of the ice may change and the diameter
measurenment may inaccurate.Moreover,As the experiment continues, the melted ice
convert into water and this water is not removed in a time, which will continue absorption
of heat by this water.

To avoid numerous potential error,various methode could be considered.Using the high

insulate pipe connect between the steam generator and Thermal conductivity
apparatus.Also can Combine these two devices into a single device,On the bottom is the
steam generator and on top is the Thermal conductivity apparatus.Also increase the spacing
between channel which may let the water removed luckly.Moreover,using multiple ice of
the same shape and size.That may easy to measure the size and avoid the ice using
numerous time cause changing the size and shapes.

Conclusions:

The main objectives of this experiment were for part 1, to determinate experimentally the
coefficients of specific heat for two chosen samples in this case aluminum and tungsten
and, for part 2, to determinate de coefficients of thermal conductivity of two samples in this
case glass and Plexiglas. the results in part 1 indicate that among of energy needed to rise
the temperature of tungsten by one grade °C is lesser then the energy needed for aluminum,
while this results are closely related to the theoretical ones, the experimentally obtained
results are lower. However, the results are not that far from the theoretical ones meaning
that little mistakes were made during measurements of water and samples mass. In the
future, the source of error could be mitigated by using metal samples with a conical shape
and calibrating the balance before measurements; on the other hand, the results in part 2,
indicate that sample one (glass) has a higher thermal conductivity than sample 2.
consequently, the deviation from theoretical values of the sample 1 is bigger than sample 2,
this can be explained by the poor contact between the ice and the sample surface, also the
pipe transform steam may let the steam temperature decrease. In future, this type of error
can be solved by combining the steam generator and the thermal conductivity apparatus
into a single device and increasing the spacing between channels.

Reference

[1]Libretexts, “17.4: Heat capacity and specific heat,” Chemistry LibreTexts, Aug. 29,
2022.
https://chem.libretexts.org/Bookshelves/Introductory_Chemistry/Introductory_Chemistry_(
CK-12)/17%3A_Thermochemistry/17.04%3A_Heat_Capacity_and_Specific_Heat

[2]“Specific heat capacity and water | U.S. Geological Survey,” Oct. 22, 2019.
https://www.usgs.gov/special-topics/water-science-school/science/specific-heat-capacity-
and-water

[3]E. Edge and E. E. Llc, “Specific heat Capacity of Metals Table chart.”
https://www.engineersedge.com/materials/specific_heat_capacity_of_metals_13259.htm

[4]Samal, S., Lee, J., Jeong, D. Y., & Kim, H. “Characterization of thermal conductivity of
SiO2–Al2O3–Y2O3 glasses”. Thermochimica Acta, vol.604 ,pp 1-6 ,2015.

[5]Rides, M., Morikawa, J., Halldahl, L., Hay, B., Lobo, H., Dawson, A., & Allen, C..
“Intercomparison of thermal conductivity and thermal diffusivity methods for plastics”.
Polymer Testing,vol 28, no 5 ,pp 480-489,2009.