Temperature and heat

Thermometry
The temperature of a body is its degree of hotness (or coldness). It is a measure of how
hot or cold a body is and should not be confused with the amount of heat it contains. In
fact it is not a fixed number but depends on the type of thermometer used and on the
temperature scale adopted. There are many types of thermometers, but each makes use
of a particular thermometric property, (i.e. a property whose value changes with
temperature) of a particular thermometric substance.
Defining a temperature scale : to establish such a scale we need;
i) some physical property of a substance – such as the volume of a gas or the
electrical resistance of pure platinum – which increases continuously with
increasing temperature. These are known as thermometric properties.
ii) fixed temperatures – these are known as the fixed points which can be accurately
reproduced in the lab, i.e. a single temperature at which a particular physical
event (eg the melting of ice) always takes place. Three such points are defined as
such:

The ice point – the temperature at which pure ice can exist in equilibrium with water at
standard atmospheric pressure, i.e. at a pressure of 760mm of mercury.
The steam point – the temperature at which pure water can exist in equilibrium with its
vapour at standard atmospheric pressure.
The triple point – of water is that unique temperature at which pure ice, pure water and
pure water vapour can exist together in equilibrium.
Note: the triple point is particularly useful since there is only one pressure at which all
three phases (solid, liquid and gas) can be in equilibrium with each other.

Thermal equilibrium and the Zeroth law of thermodynamics

Thermal contact: a system is in thermal contact with another system if it can exchange
energy with it through the process of heat.
Thermal isolation is difficult to achieve as real systems are always in thermal contact
with their environment to some extent.
Thermal equilibrium is a state in which every part of a body has the same temperature
and in which there is no net loss or gain of thermal energy by the body to or from the
surroundings. A body is known to be in a state of thermal equilibrium if the
independent physical properties (pressure and volume) of the system are constant.
Once other observable physical properties are known to be constant, the temperature of
the body must be constant.

1
Two bodies will be in thermal equilibrium with one another (their temperatures equal)
provided:
(i) they are in thermal contact and (ii) they are both in thermal equilibrium states.
It follows that heat can flow from one body to another only if they are at different
temperatures.
Hence two systems are said to be in thermal contact if they can exchange energy by heat
transfer while two systems are in thermal equilibrium if there is no transfer of heat
between them and both have the same temperature.
It is found that when two bodies A and B are each in thermal equilibrium with a third
body C, then A and B are also in thermal equilibrium with each other. This is known as
the Zeroth law of thermodynamics.
The following shows us the use of the Zeroth law. For example, suppose we wish to
determine whether two bodies A and B are in thermal equilibrium. We do this by
bringing each in turn into contact with a third body, e.g. a thermometer T.
Experimentally, then, we bring A and T into thermal equilibrium, and B and T into
thermal equilibrium. If the temperature reading is the same in the two cases, then A
and B are in thermal equilibrium.

Celsius temperature scale

The Celsius temperature, 𝜃, is defined by:
𝜃 = 𝑇 − 273.15 𝜃 = temperature in oC,
𝑇 = temperature in K, known as the thermodynamic temperature.
The Celsius scale was originally defined by using the ice and steam points as fixed points
of the scale and designating them as 0 oC and 100 oC respectively. These temperatures
are respectively 273.15 K and 373.15 K and the equation above is consistent with this.
It follows that a temperature change of 1 K is exactly equal to a temperature change of
1 oC. Hence ∆𝜃 = ∆𝑇
A mercury-in-glass thermometer could be calibrated by marking the positions of the
mercury at the ice point and at the steam point and then dividing into a hundred equal
divisions. Hence the Celsius temperature scale would then be given by the following
equation:
𝑙𝜃 −𝑙0
𝜃=𝑙 𝑥 100
100 −𝑙0

where 𝑙0 and 𝑙100 are the lengths of the mercury column at 0oC and 100oC.
If a platinum resistance thermometer were to be calibrated by making an equivalent
assumption, i.e. that equal increases in temperature produce equal increases in the
resistance of platinum, then temperatures measured by this thermometer would be
according to the platinum resistance scale. These two scales coincide only at the fixed
points (0oC and 100oC), because as might be expected the volume of mercury and the

2
resistance of platinum do not vary in the same way. If we assume that resistance varies
linearly with temperature, then;
𝑅𝜃 −𝑅0
𝜃= 𝑥 100 where 𝑅 = resistance
𝑅100 −𝑅0

Similarly for the constant volume gas thermometer;

𝑝𝜃 −𝑝0
𝜃= 𝑥 100 where 𝑝= pressure of gas
𝑝100 −𝑝0

Thermometric properties
The property of an object which changes with temperature is called a thermometric
property. The following measurable physical quantities are some of those which prove
to be suitable thermometric properties.
i) the length of a liquid column in a glass capillary tube.
ii) the electrical resistance of a platinum wire wound into a coil.
iii) the pressure of a gas (or corresponding height) whose volume is kept
constant (constant volume gas thermometer).
iv) the s.v.p. of a liquid.
v) the e.m.f. of a thermocouple.
vi) the speed of sound through a gas.

It is important to note that no two thermometers give exactly the same value for a
measurement of temperature. They agree only at the fixed points.

Thermodynamic temperature scale

This is the standard temperature scale adopted for scientific measurement. 𝑇 is
measured in Kelvin (K).
The thermodynamic temperature scale uses one fixed point, the triple point of water.
This is the temperature at which saturated water – vapour, pure water and melting ice
are all in equilibrium. It is defined as 273.16 K.
On the thermodynamic scale, the ice point has a temperature 273.15 K. The slight
difference from the triple point is due to the difference in pressure (4.6mm Hg at the
triple point and 760mm Hg at the ice point) and to the removal of dissolved air from the
distilled water used for the triple point.
If we use a constant-volume gas thermometer, the gas pressure 𝑝 is measured at the
triple point of water, 273.16 K. If the pressure is 𝑝 at an unknown temperature, 𝑇, on
the thermodynamic scale, then;
𝑝
𝑇= 𝑥 273.16 K
𝑝𝑡𝑟

3
With a platinum resistance thermometer then;
𝑅
𝑇= 𝑥 273.16 K
𝑅𝑡𝑟

Thermometers based on different properties give different values for the same
temperature, except at the fixed points where they must agree by definition. All are
correct according to their own scales and the discrepancy arises because thermometric
properties do not keep in step as the temperature changes. The disagreement although
small in the range 0 to 100 oC, is inconvenient. Hence the procedure is to take one scale
as a standard, in which all temperatures are expressed. The one chosen is the absolute
thermodynamic scale.
oC K
Steam point 100 373.15
Triple point 0.01 273.16
Ice point 0 273.15

International Practical temperature scale (IPTS)

This is the accepted practical scale of temperature. A number of fixed points are given
values which agree as closely as possible with the thermodynamic temperatures. The
temperature measuring instruments between these fixed points are specified. Certain
formulae and tables must be used to calculate the temperature on the international
scale from the measurements taken. It consists of eleven primary fixed points (from
triple point of hydrogen at 13.81 K to freezing point of gold at 1337.58 K) and some
secondary points.

Triple point of water

Because of the difficulty of reproducing the ice and steam point with sufficient
precision, thermometers are now calibrated by means of a single fixed point. The triple
point of pure water has been selected for this purpose and is characterised by a
temperature and pressure such that solid, liquid and vapour states of matter all exist in
equilibrium.

4
 Triple point cell

Some of the water vaporises at once and the vessel is cooled until a layer of ice appears
along the edges, where upon all 3 states are present. The sensing element of the
thermometer is inserted into this vessel and when thermal equilibrium has been
attained, the magnitude of the physical property Xtp is observed. The corresponding
temperature has been assigned a value of 273.16 K and the point thus determined is B.

Equating the slopes of C to A and B to A:

𝑇−0 273.16−0
=
𝑋−0 𝑋𝑡𝑝 −0

𝑇 273.16
=
𝑋 𝑋𝑡𝑝

𝑋
𝑇 = 273.16
𝑋𝑡𝑝

5
Graphs for different gases at the temperature of steam in equilibrium with water at
standard pressure are shown in the diagram. When extrapolated to ptr = 0, they all
indicate the same value, which is the temperature T of the steam point on the ideal gas
scale. A constant-volume thermometer containing a real gas, e.g. helium, hydrogen or
nitrogen, can thus be used to measure temperatures on the ideal gas scale.

Heat
Heat is the energy which is transferred from a body at a higher temperature to one at a
lower temperature by conduction, convection, or radiation. It is measured in JOULES.
When a transfer of heat occurs, the internal energy of a body receiving the heat
increases and if the kinetic component increases, the temperature of the body rises.
Temperature is the degree of hotness. When two bodies are placed in contact, heat
flows from the body at the higher temperature to the one at the lower temperature.
Temperature is useful in describing the behaviour of matter in bulk. The behaviour of
matter in bulk can be described in terms of quantities such as density, pressure and
temperature which are measurable and capable of perception by the senses. These
macroscopic (large-scale) properties of matter are related to the masses, speeds,
energies etc. of the constituent atoms and molecules that cannot be perceived directly.
The macroscopic is explained in terms of the microscopic.
Thermodynamics: thermal effects are considered using macroscopic quantities like
pressure, temperature, volume and internal energy.
Kinetic theory: covers similar ground but assumes the existence of atoms and
molecules. The kinetic theory accounts for all three states of matter (solid, liquid and
gas) by assuming that matter is made up of molecules which are in continual motion.
This motion exists at all temperatures above absolute zero, and the kinetic energy
associated with it is referred to as thermal energy. The molecules also possess potential
energy. It is the magnitude of the kinetic and potential energies which determines
whether a substance is in the solid, the liquid or the gaseous state.

6
Heat Capacity
A body is said to acquire heat when its temperature rises, and to lose heat when its
temperature falls. Heat is said to be indestructible. Then two substances in contact
have a constant quantity of heat between. Thus heat lost by one = heat gained by the
other.
Heat Capacity (Thermal capacity) – the heat capacity of a body is the quantity of heat
required to raise the temperature by one degree.
Unit = JK -1 Symbol: 𝐶
If the temperature of a body whose heat capacity is 𝐶 rises by ∆𝜃 when an amount of
heat ∆𝑄 is added to it, then:
∆𝑄 = 𝐶∆𝜃 (1)
(heat given out / taken in = heat capacity x temperature change)

Specific heat capacity – this is the heat required to raise the temperature of unit mass by
one degree Kelvin.
Unit = J Kg -1 K -1 Symbol: 𝑐
If the temperature of a body of mass 𝑚 and specific heat capacity 𝑐 rises by ∆𝜃 when an
amount of heat ∆𝑄 is added to it, then:
∆𝑄 = 𝑚𝑐∆𝜃 (2)
(heat given out / taken in = mass x specific heat capacity x temperature change)

Hence from equation (1) and (2):

𝐶 = 𝑚𝑐
(heat capacity = mass x specific heat capacity)
Also 𝑚𝑐∆𝜃 = 𝐶∆𝜃
Note: The word specific used in front of a physical quantity should always mean per unit
mass.
The value of c depends on the temperature at which it is measured. However, over
small changes in temperature, the variation is slight and is normally ignored.
The equations above only involve changes in temperature and so the numerical values
of 𝐶 and 𝑐 when expressed in J oC-1 and J kg-1 oC-1 are the same as those expressed in J K-1
and J kg-1 K-1 respectively.
High specific heat capacity is desirable in material if only a small temperature rise is
required for a given heat input. This is why water is used as a coolant in a car radiator.
Sodium also has a high specific heat capacity and is used in liquid form as a coolant in
some nuclear reactors.

7
Measurement of specific heat capacity

1) Liquid

The rheostat is adjusted to give a suitable current through the heating coil. The inner
calorimeter contains a known mass of the liquid under test. The temperature of the
liquid is recorded. The switch is closed and the heater current and p.d. are recorded.
The liquid is stirred continuously, and its temperature is measured at 1 minute
intervals. Heating is continued until the temperature has risen by about 50oC.
The current and p.d. change slightly due to the increased resistance of the heating coil at
higher temperatures, and their values should be recorded immediately before switching
off the heater. The heater is switched off and the temperature is recorded until it has
fallen to about 10oC below its maximum value.
If the specific heat capacity of the liquid and the specific heat capacity of the material of
the calorimeter and stirrer are 𝑐 and 𝑐𝑐 respectively, then, by the principle of
conservation of energy;
energy supplied by heater = energy received by liquid + energy received by calorimeter
and stirrer
𝑄 = 𝑉𝐼𝑡 = 𝑚𝑐(𝜃2 − 𝜃1 ) + 𝑚𝑐 𝑐𝑐 (𝜃2 − 𝜃1 )
= (𝑚𝑐 + 𝑚𝑐 𝑐𝑐 )(𝜃2 − 𝜃1 )
where 𝑉 = p.d.
𝐼 = current
𝑡 = time for heating to be carried out
𝜃2 = highest reading on thermometer
𝜃1 = initial temperature
𝑚 = mass of liquid
𝑚𝑐 = mass of calorimeter and stirrer
Hence c can be determined.

8
Heat Losses
In experiments with calorimeters certain precautions can be taken to minimise heat
losses. These include (i) polishing the calorimeter to reduce radiation loss, (ii)
surrounding it by an outer container or a jacket of a poor heat conductor to reduce
convection and conduction loss, and (iii) supporting it on an insulating stand or
supports to minimise conduction.
If the calorimeter and its contents are cooled to about 5K below room temperature and
then heated steadily during the experiment to about 5 K above, the heat gained from the
surroundings during the first half of the time will be nearly equal to that lost to the
surroundings during the second half.

2) Solid

The material under test is in the form of a

solid cylinder of mass 𝑚, into which two
holes have been drilled to accommodate a
heater and a thermometer. The procedure is
basically the same as that for a liquid.

3) Nernst’s Method for a solid

A platinum heating coil is wound on

paraffin-waxed paper around a cylindrical
plug X of the solid under test. The plug
and coil are inserted into a cylindrical
block Y of the same metal as X. A layer of
paraffin wax around the coil insulates it
from Y. The leads to the heating coil are
used to suspend the metal inside a glass
vessel which can be evacuated, to prevent
losses by convection and conduction. The
apparatus is surrounded by a constant-
temperature enclosure, the temperature
of which is the temperature at which the
specific heat measurement is required.

9
The resistance of the coil is measured and from it the temperature calculated. A steady
current is passed. After the heater current is switched off, the resistance of the coil is
again measured to find the rise in temperature of the specimen. Resistance
measurements are made at intervals.
Assuming that no energy loss occurs:
electrical energy supplied by heater = heat received by specimen.
𝑉𝐼𝑡 = 𝑚𝑐(𝜃2 − 𝜃1 )
Hence c can be determined.

Latent Heat
It is necessary to supply heat to a solid in order to melt it, even if the solid is already at
its melting point. This energy is called latent heat.
Hence latent heat must be supplied for changes from:
a) solid to liquid (i.e. melting)
b) liquid to vapour (i.e. vaporisation)
c) solid to vapour directly (sublimation)

Latent heat must be removed for the reverse processes, e.g. when a vapour condenses to
form a liquid or when a liquid solidifies.
The specific latent heat( 𝑙 ) of fusion (or vaporisation or sublimation) of a substance is
defined as the energy required to cause unit mass of the substance to change from solid
to liquid (or liquid to vapour, or solid to vapour) without temperature change.
Unit: JKg -1
The value of 𝑙 depends on the temperature and on the pressure, at which it is measured.

The heat ∆𝑄 which must be added to change the phase of a mass, 𝑚 of substance is
given by:
∆𝑄 = 𝑚𝑙 where 𝑙 = specific latent heat of fusion, vaporisation, or sublimation.

For the reverse processes (liquid to solid, vapour to liquid and vapour to solid)
∆𝑄 represents the amount of heat that must be removed from the substance.

10
Experimental determination of the specific latent heat of vaporisation of a
liquid
This method makes use of a self-jacketing vaporiser. The liquid is heated in the vacuum-
jacketed vessel by the heating coil. Its vapour passes down the tube of the condenser
and is condensed by cold water flowing through the jacket.
When the apparatus has reached its steady state, the liquid is at its boiling-point and the
heat supplied by the coil is used in evaporating the liquid and in offsetting the losses.
The liquid emerging from the condenser is then collected for a measured time, 𝑡, and
then measured, 𝑚1 .
If 𝐼1 and 𝑉1 are the current through the coil and the potential difference across it, the
electrical energy supplied in 𝑡 seconds is 𝑉𝐼𝑡. If 𝑄 is the heat lost to the surroundings in
time 𝑡, and 𝑙 is the specific latent heat of vaporisation of the liquid, then;

𝑉1 𝐼1 𝑡 = 𝑚1 𝑙 + 𝑄 (1)
The heater p.d. and current are now
changed to 𝑉2 and 𝐼2 and the new mass
𝑚2 of vapour which condenses at the
same time 𝑡 is measured.
Each part of the apparatus is at the same
temperature as it was with the initial
rate of heating and the energy lost in
time t is again Q. Therefore:
𝑉2 𝐼2 𝑡 = 𝑚2 𝑙 + 𝑄 (2)
Subtracting equation (1) from (2) gives:
(𝑉2 𝐼2 − 𝑉1 𝐼1 )𝑡 = (𝑚2 − 𝑚1 )𝑙
from which 𝑙 can be determined.

The heat losses are determined by the temperature of the vessel, which is fixed at the
boiling point of the liquid. Therefore, they may be eliminated by a second experiment
with a different rate of evaporation.
The quantity of heat required to change unit mass of liquid into vapour at the same
temperature is called the specific latent heat of vaporisation.

11
Change of state
Experiments indicate that when heat is applied at a steady rate to a crystalline solid,
temperature rises at a constant rate until melting begins and then remains constant
until the solid is completely melted, even though heat is still supplied at the same rate as
shown by a and b on the graph below. According to the theory of solids, an increase in
thermal energy increases the vibration of the particles, until the amplitude of these
vibrations become so large that the lattice of the solid raptures. The temperature at
which this first occurs is known as the melting point of the material. Once melting has
begun, the disintegration of the lattice continues at constant temperature until it is
completely destroyed and the material is in the liquid state. All the energy supplied to
the material during this change of state is used in separating the particles.

At (a) the melting point is reached and then remains constant (b) until the substance is
all melted. The temperature of the resulting H2O then rises steadily (c) until boiling
begins, whereupon it remains constant (d) until all the liquid has been converted to
vapour – then rises again (e).
Therefore, a change of state has occurred from solid to liquid to gas.
The temperature remains constant during a change of state. As a result, the heat
supplied during such a process is referred to as latent heat.

Questions
Thermometry
1) A constant mass of gas maintained at constant pressure has a volume of 200 cm3
at the temperature of melting ice, 273.2 cm3 at the temperature of water boiling
under standard pressure, and 525.1 cm3 at the normal boiling point of sulphur. A
platinum wire has resistance of 2.000, 2.778 and 5.280 Ω at the temperatures.
Calculate the values of the boiling point of sulphur given by the two sets of
observations, and comment on the results.

12
 2) The pressure recorded by a constant volume gas thermometer at a kelvin
temperature 𝑇 is 4.8 x 104 N m-2. Calculate 𝑇 if the pressure at the triple point,
273.16 K, is 4.2 x 104 N m-2.

3) a) Explain what is meant by the statement “After a long enough time, two objects
A and B, that are in contact with each other, reach thermal equilibrium”.
b) Explain how the statement in part (a) is the underlying concept in
determining if any two objects that are not in contact have the same
temperature.
c) List three desirable properties of a thermometric property.
d) The glass `bulb of a constant volume gas thermometer is placed in a liquid at a
temperature 𝑇. The pressure of the gas at the triple point of water (273.16 K) is
equivalent to 310 mm of mercury column height.
i. Determine the pressure of the gas inside the constant volume gas
thermometer at the triple point of water. Take the density of mercury to
be 13600 kg m-3.
ii. Calculate the temperature 𝑇 of the liquid in degrees Celsius, if the height
of the mercury column when measuring its temperature is 405 mm.
iii. The temperature reading taken at the same time using a mercury-in -glass
thermometer is 82.9 oC. Suggest a reason for the difference between the
two readings of temperature.

4) a) Explain what is meant by thermal equilibrium between two bodies.

b) Outline a test that you would carry out to investigate whether two bodies A
and B, which are not in contact with one another, are in thermal equilibrium.
c) Explain briefly how a constant volume gas thermometer is used to establish
the ideal gas temperature scale. Your answer should include:
i. a brief explanation of the method,
ii. the physical equation used and the condition under which this equation
holds,
iii. a sketch of the graph used to establish the ideal gas temperature scale.
d) The pressure recorded by a constant volume gas thermometer at a
temperature 𝑇 Kelvin is 5.20 x 104 N m-2. Find 𝑇, if the pressure at the triple
point, 273.16 K, is 4.20 x 104 N m-2.

Heat
1) Water flows at the rate of 0.15 kg min-1 through a tube and is heated by a heater
dissipating 25.2 W. The inflow and outflow water temperatures are 15.2 oC and
17.4 oC respectively. When the rate of flow is increased to 0.2318 kg min-1 and
the rate of heating to 37.8 W, the inflow and outflow temperatures are unaltered.
Find i) the specific heat capacity of water. ii) the rate of loss of heat from the
tube.

13
2) An electric kettle with a 2 kW heating element has a heat capacity of 400 J K-1.
1 kg of water at 20oC is placed in the kettle. The kettle is switched on and it is
found that 13 minutes later the mass of water in it is 0.5kg. Ignoring heat losses
calculate a value for the specific latent heat of vaporisation of water. (Specific
heat capacity of water = 4.2 x 103 J kg-1 K-1).

3) a) Give word definitions for the terms specific heat capacity and specific latent
heat of fusion.
b) An aluminium container contains 250 g of water with a specific heat capacity
of 4.186 kJ kg-1 K-1. The aluminium container itself has a mass of 100 g. The
container and water are in thermal equilibrium at 10.0 oC. Two metallic blocks
are placed into the water. One is a 50 g piece of copper at 80.0 oC. Another
unknown sample has a mass of 70.0 g and is originally at a temperature of
100 oC. The entire system stabilises at a final temperature of 20.0 oC.

i. Determine the specific heat capacity of the unknown sample.

ii. Can you identify a possible material from the data in Table 1? Explain your
answer.

4) A hot water tank contains 120 kg of water at 15 oC. The tank itself has a heat
capacity of 6000 J K-1.
a) Calculate the heat energy required to raise the temperature of water to 50 oC
if the tank is well insulated.
(specific heat capacity of water = 4200 J kg-1 K-1)
b) What assumption is made in calculating the answer to (a)?
c) What is the time required for the water and tank to reach the final
temperature if the power of the heater is 2500 W?

5) A girl-guide at a camping site wanted to brew some tea. She filled a container of
mass 180g, with 220g of water. She placed the container on a stone and inserted
a 60 W immersion heater connected to the car battery. The initial temperature
was 20 oC.
a) The temperature could not rise more than 60oC. Why did this happen? State
two improvements which would remedy the situation and so the girl-guide
could bring the water to boil.
b) After the situation was remedied, what time did the water take to boil after
reaching 60 oC?
c) Although the supply of thermal energy was continued, the temperature of the
water remained at 100oC. Explain this observation. (Specific heat capacity of
container = 390 J kg -1 K-1, specific heat capacity of water = 4200 J kg -1 K-1)

14
 6) a) Explain what is meant by the specific latent heat of vaporization of a liquid.
b) Liquid A of mass 200 g is at a temperature of 100 oC. Another liquid B of mass
100 g is at a temperature of 0 oC. When the two liquids are mixed, the final
temperature is 50 oC. Which of the two liquids has the higher specific heat
capacity? Show all your working.
c) A radiation heater is used to heat a glass container filled with 300 g of water
initially at a temperature of 55 oC. A current of 10 A passes through the heater
that has a potential difference of 250 V across it. All of the water is turned into
steam at 110 oC. Calculate the time taken for the above process assuming that
there are no heat losses.
(specific heat capacity of water = 4181 J kg-1 K-1, specific heat capacity of steam=
2080 J kg-1 K-1, specific latent heat of vaporization = 2260 x 103 J kg-1, heat
capacity of container = 75 J K-1)
d) Explain carefully why the specific heat capacity of steam is less than that of
water.
e) Explain why a solid has one specific heat capacity, while a gas has a large
number of them.

Homework
1) a) A student made the following statement ‘Temperature measures the amount
of heat in a body’.
In what ways is this statement incorrect? Your answer should include the terms:
thermal equilibrium, internal energy, and heat transfer.
b) The low pressure of a gas in a constant volume gas thermometer is measured
at the boiling point of sulphur and at the triple point of water. The pressure of
the gas at the triple point of water is 4.2 x 104 Pa. Given that the pressure of the
gas at the boiling point of sulphur is 1.10 x 105 Pa, calculate the boiling point
temperature of sulphur.

2) The resistance of a platinum resistance thermometer at 100 oC to that at 0 oC is

1.3744, while its resistance at 200 oC to that at 0 oC is 1.7376. In all cases,
temperatures are measured with a thermometer P whose thermometric
property is different from that of the platinum resistance thermometer. What
temperature will the platinum resistance thermometer indicate when
thermometer P indicates a temperature of 200 oC?

3) The resistance of the element of a platinum resistance thermometer is 2.50 Ω at

the ice point and 3.38 Ω at the steam point.
a) What temperature on the platinum resistance scale would correspond to a
resistance value of 10.21 Ω?
b) Measured on the gas thermometer scale, the same temperature corresponded
to a value of 870 oC. Explain this discrepancy.

15
4) In an experiment, steam from a boiler is allowed to mix with 0.3 kg of water at a
temperature of 20 oC that is contained in a thick polystyrene cup. By the end of
the experiment, the mass of water increased to 0.32 kg and its temperature rose
to 56 oC.
a) Calculate:
i. the heat energy gained by the 0.3 kg mass of water in the cup;
ii. the heat lost by the 0.02 kg condensed steam;
iii. the specific latent heat of vaporization of water.
(Assume that the temperature of steam is 100 oC and that the specific heat
capacity of water is 4200 J kg-1 K-1)
b) The thermal capacity of the thick polystyrene was neglected in your
calculation. State TWO advantages of using a thick polystyrene cup rather
than a copper can for such an experiment.

5) a) Define the specific heat capacity of a substance.

b) A model 0.5 kg pile driver falls and strikes an iron rod at 1 m s-1. The iron rod
is to be driven vertically into a bucket of soil.

If the rod has a mass of 20 g and the pile driver is raised and dropped 15 times in
a very short time, calculate the theoretical maximum temperature rise in the rod.
(take the specific heat capacity of iron to be 450 J kg-1 K-1)
c) In an experiment to determine the specific heat capacity of a liquid, a number
of precautions need to be taken. Mention TWO important precautions and
explain their significance.
d) Find the mass of a block of ice at -5 oC placed in a 150 g copper container
holding 250 g of water at 18 oC assuming that when all the ice melts the
temperature of the mixture is 15 oC.
(specific heat capacity of water = 4200 J kg-1 K-1, specific heat capacity of ice
at -5 oC = 2100 J kg-1 K-1, specific heat capacity of copper = 390 J kg-1 K-1,
specific latent heat of fusion of ice = 3.33 x 105 J kg-1).

16