Name of the experiment: To determine the value of J, the

mechanical equivalent of heat by electrical method.

1.1 Objectives:
The main objective of this lab is to determine the value of the mechanical equivalent of heat by
electrical method.

1.2 Pre-lab:
Students should read the lab manual and have clear idea about the objective, time frame and
outcomes of the lab.
1.3 Outcomes:
After completing this lab work student will be able to answer the following questions:
• Define mechanical equivalent of heat.
• Why is it called mechanical equivalent of heat?
• How do you calculate the mechanical equivalent of heat?
• What is the value of mechanical equivalent of heat in SI unit?
1.4 Timing and Length of Investigation (Total 3 Hours):
• Lab Preparation (15 minutes):
▪ Students will sit for the lab class with preparations and class attendance will
be taken.
• Lecture on Theory (30 minutes):
▪ Teacher will clarify the objective and theory of the experiment.
• Lecture on Procedure (15 minutes):
▪ Students will learn about the procedure of the experiment through a video
lecture.
• Experimental Work (90 to 100 minutes):
▪ A sample data table will be provided to students and teacher will clarify
every part of it.
▪ Students will do all the calculations, draw graphs in excel and complete the
result part.
• Post Lab Discussion (15 to 20 minutes):
▪ Teacher will summarize the total lab work and have a discussion with the
students related with the questions given in the outcomes part.
• Report Submission:
▪ After completing the lab reports students will upload their lab reports as
groups in teams in the same day.
1.5 Theory:
The mechanical equivalent of heat J is the number of Joules of electrical energy required to
generate one calorie of heat.
If V volt be the potential difference across a conducting coil and 𝑖 ampere be the current flowing
through the coil in 𝑡 seconds, then electrical energy expended in the coil is 𝑉𝑖𝑡. Hence if this energy
is converted into H calories of heat we have,

𝑉𝑖𝑡
𝐽= … … … … . (1)
𝐻

If the heat thus developed be measured by means of a calorimeter, then the temperature of the
calorimeter with its contents will rise from 𝜃10 𝐶 𝑡𝑜 𝜃20 𝐶. Hence the heat taken up by the calorimeter
and its contents is given by,

𝐻 = (𝑚1 𝑆1 + 𝑚2 𝑆2 + 𝑚3 𝑆3 )∆𝜃 … … … … . . (2)

Where,
𝑚1 = mass of the calorimeter
𝑚2 = mass of the stirrer
𝑚3 = mass of the contents in the calorimeter
𝑆1= specific heat of calorimeter
𝑆2 = specific heat of stirrer
𝑆3 = specific heat of the contents in the calorimeter
∆𝜃=(𝜃2 − 𝜃1 )
From equation (1) and (2), we get

𝑉𝑖𝑡
𝐽=
(𝑚1 𝑆1 + 𝑚2 𝑆2 + 𝑚3 𝑆3 )∆𝜃

1.6 Apparatus:
Joules calorimeter with heating coil, thermometer, rheostat, switch, stop watch, a liquid of known
specific heat, voltmeter, ammeter, weight box, balance, connecting wires.
1.7 Procedure:
1. Make connections as shown in the figure 1. Clean the calorimeter and weigh it. Pour some
liquid (water) in the calorimeter and weigh it again. Hence determine the mass of the liquid.

Figure 1: Determining the value of J

2. Put the heating coil in the calorimeter which should dip just completely in the liquid. Insert a
thermometer in the calorimeter with the bulb near the middle region of water but never
touching the coil. Place the calorimeter inside a double walled chamber.
3. Close the circuit temporarily to adjust the current of about 2 amperes. Now start the stop-watch
and the current simultaneously and go on stirring the liquid. Record the current, voltage and
temperature at an interval of every minute.
4. When the temperature has risen about 80 C, stop the current, simultaneously noting the time
for which the current flowed but allow the stop-watch to run on. The temperature will further
rise. Note the time from the beginning of starting the stop-watch to the maximum rise of
temperature 𝜃2 . Record this temperature and go on stirring the liquid as before.
5. Now allow the calorimeter to go through the same length of time as it has been rising in
temperature and again note the temperature. The actual loss in temperature, by radiation during
the heating process is half of this fall in temperature. Add this loss to the observed maximum
temperature 𝜃2 to get the maximum temperature of the liquid.
1.8 Observations:

Mass of the calorimeter, 𝑚1 = ⋯ … … … … … … . . 𝑔𝑚

Mass of the stirrer, 𝑚2 = ⋯ … … … … … … . 𝑔𝑚

Mass of the calorimeter and water, 𝑚 = ⋯ … … … … … … . . 𝑔𝑚

Mass of water, 𝑚3 = 𝑚 − 𝑚1 = ⋯ … … … … … … … … 𝑔𝑚

Specific heat of calorimeter, 𝑆1 = ⋯ … … … … … . . 𝑐𝑎𝑙𝑔𝑚−1 ℃−1

Specific heat of stirrer, 𝑆2 = ⋯ … … … … … . . 𝑐𝑎𝑙𝑔𝑚−1 ℃−1

Specific heat of the contents in the calorimeter, 𝑆3 = ⋯ … … … … … . . 𝑐𝑎𝑙𝑔𝑚−1 ℃−1

Table1: Readings of current-voltage-temperature

No. of Time Current, 𝒊 Voltage V Temperature

observations (min) (amp) (volts) 𝟎
𝑪
1

8
 9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

Recordings of time and temperature with radiation correction:

Initial temperature of calorimeter with its contents, 𝜃1 = ⋯ … … … … … … ℃

Final temperature of calorimeter with its contents, 𝜃2 = ⋯ … … … … … … ℃

Rise of temperature, ∆𝜃 ′ = (𝜃2 − 𝜃1 ) = ⋯ … … … … … … . . ℃

Temperature after falling to same length of time, 𝜃2′ = ⋯ … … … … . . ℃

(𝜃2 −𝜃2′ )
Radiation correction, 𝜃𝑟 = = ⋯…………….℃
2

Corrected rise of temperature,∆𝜃 = ∆𝜃 ′ + 𝜃𝑟 = ⋯ … … … … . ℃

Time during which the current is passed, 𝑡 = ⋯ … … … … 𝑚𝑖𝑛 = ⋯ … … … 𝑠𝑒𝑐

Mean current during the interval, 𝑖 = ⋯ … … … … . . 𝑎𝑚𝑝

Mean voltage during the interval, 𝑉 = ⋯ … … … … … … . 𝑣𝑜𝑙𝑡𝑠

1.9 Calculation:
The mechanical equivalent of heat,

𝑉𝑖𝑡
𝐽=
(𝑚1 𝑆1 + 𝑚2 𝑆2 + 𝑚3 𝑆3 )∆𝜃

⇒𝐽 = −−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−

∴ 𝐽 = ⋯ … … … … … … … … … … … … 𝐽𝑐𝑎𝑙 −1

1.10 Result:

From the experiment, the value of mechanical equivalent of heat 𝐽 =

1.11 Discussions:
1.12 Resources:
For further understanding, students may go through the following resources:
• Practical Physics (by Dr. Giasuddin Ahmed & Md. Shahabuddin): Expt. 69:
To determine the value of J, the mechanical equivalent of heat by
electrical method (Page no-433).
• Video Link:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5yOhSIAIPRE
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zd-FjMksimw
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H3CmaL-9V6w