Small Scale Investigation: Transfer of Thermal Energy and its Effect on Temperature of Matter
Objective:
To investigate how the transfer of thermal energy between hot water and cold water affects the temperature of both liquids over time.
Independent and Dependent Variables
- Independent Variable: Initial temperature of hot water (e.g., 70°C, 80°C, 90°C)
- Dependent Variable: Final temperature of the mixed water after thermal energy transfer (measured over time)
Materials Needed
- Hot plate
- Three beakers (one for hot water, one for cold water, and one for mixing)
- Thermometer or temperature probe
- Ice
- Water
- Stopwatch or timer
- Paper towels
- Ruler (for measuring water volume if needed)
Procedures
-
Setup:
- Measure 100 mL of cold water (approximately room temperature, around 20°C) and pour it into a beaker labeled "Cold Water."
- Measure 100 mL of hot water (70°C, 80°C, and 90°C for different trials) and pour it into a separate beaker labeled "Hot Water".
-
Combine the Waters:
- After recording the initial temperatures of both the hot and cold water, carefully pour the hot water into the beaker with cold water to mix them.
- Immediately place the thermometer in the mixed water and start the timer.
-
Record Temperature Changes:
- Record the temperature every 30 seconds for 5 minutes.
-
Repeat:
- Perform the above experiment two more times with different initial temperatures of the hot water (80°C and 90°C).
- Ensure all other environmental factors remain constant (e.g., same volume of water, same room temperature, etc.).
-
Data Recording:
- Record the results in a table.
Data Collection and Analysis
Create a table that captures the temperature readings over time for each trial. Below is a sample format.
| Time (seconds) | Hot Water (70°C) | Final Temp (70°C) | Hot Water (80°C) | Final Temp (80°C) | Hot Water (90°C) | Final Temp (90°C) | |----------------|------------------|-------------------|------------------|-------------------|------------------|-------------------| | 0 | 70 | 20 | 80 | 20 | 90 | 20 | | 30 | 68 | | 78 | | 88 | | | 60 | 65 | | 75 | | 85 | | | 90 | 62 | | 73 | | 83 | | | 120 | 60 | | 70 | | 80 | | | 150 | 58 | | 68 | | 78 | | | 180 | 56 | | 66 | | 75 | | | 210 | 55 | | 65 | | 73 | | | 240 | 54 | | 64 | | 72 | | | 300 | 53 | | 63 | | 71 | |
Graphing Data
After collecting and organizing your data, plot it on a graph using temperature (°C) on the Y-axis and time (seconds) on the X-axis. You can have separate lines for each initial temperature of the hot water.
-
Label the Axes:
- X-axis: Time (seconds)
- Y-axis: Temperature (°C)
-
Plot Points:
- Plot the recorded temperatures against time for each trial.
-
Draw Lines:
- Connect the points for each trial to visually represent the temperature changes over time.
Conclusion
In the conclusion, discuss the relationship between the initial temperature of hot water and the final mixed temperatures. Comment on the efficiency of thermal energy transfer and its dependence on the initial conditions. Reflect on any anomalies in data and possible reasons for variations observed in the outcomes.
By following this structured approach, you’ll be able to effectively conduct an investigation on how the transfer of thermal energy affects temperature changes in matter.
5 answers