Mechanical (Work) Equivalent of Heat

In this experiment we will do work against friction and measure the thermal energy that passes
into a “calorimeter”. The friction force will be the friction between a cord under tension that is
wrapped around a metal cylinder. As the cylinder is turned, the cord remains stationary and the “work”
taken away by the friction will appear as thermal energy. The thermal energy, or heat, will increase the
temperature of the calorimeter and a careful analysis of the work done and the thermal energy
transferred should show that they are equivalent, hence the name of the experiment.

We have two different apparatuses for this experiment.

One is a traditional water-filled copper calorimeter that uses a
thermometer to measure the temperature increase. The second is
a more modern design that uses an electronic temperature probe
imbedded in a solid aluminum cylinder to measure the (b)
temperature increase. Other than those equipment differences the
experiment works in much the same way. The diagram to the
left shows the basic experimental setup with the cord wrapped
around the calorimeter cylinder and tension maintained by the
hanging 5 kg mass. As the cylinder is turned the hanging mass
must lift off the ground so that the cord tension is equal to the
weight (49 N) of the hanging mass. Every time the cylinder
makes one turn or revolution, a distance of one circumference (c)
passes by the friction force. The frictional force is actually (a)
distributed around the circumference, but we can model it as if
the force acted at one point on the circumference. Force times (a) Setup for old apparatus. (b) Setup viewed
distance then gives us the work done by friction. from above. (c) Copper calorimeter, and cap.

PROCEDURE:

This equipment consists of a copper calorimeter (cCu = 385 J/kg·C°) with a screw on cap that
has a hole and washer for the thermometer. The thermometer is calibrated in tenths of a degree and is
far more precise than the thermometers we have been using. For that reason it is expensive to replace,
so be careful! When the thermometer is inserted make sure the screw cap is not tightened until you are
ready to make measurements. Also make sure the thermometer has been dipped in glycerin to make
insertion smooth.

Before the cylinder is turned, it must be filled with water. In principle the work done by the
friction will pass into the calorimeter and the temperature of the water and calorimeter will increase.
Do a standard calorimetry calculation to calculate how much thermal energy has been absorbed by the
calorimeter + water system. Since the specific heat of water is quite large (4186 J/kg·C°) we can
anticipate that the temperature increase will not be very large if we only do a few turns of the
calorimeter. For this reason do approximately 200 turns, so that the total work done is given by:

Work = (49) (Circumference) (~200)

where Circumference of cylinder = (p·Diameter).

Now, 200 turns is somewhat arbitrary, but a simple calculation shows it should generate about
1440 J of thermal energy. This should increase the temperature of the calorimeter system by about
4°C. The second problem that arises is that the calorimeter system is not isolated from the
surroundings and therefore we can expect energy to be transferred into or out of the system from the
surrounding air at room temperature. Experience has shown that the best way to minimize the
influence this problem has on the results is to start the experiment with the temperature of the
calorimeter as far below room temperature (RT) as it will finish above room temperature. Under
these conditions we can anticipate that as much thermal energy will move into the calorimeter from the
air before it reaches RT as will flow out of the calorimeter to the air after it is above RT. This is a very
important part of the experiment, therefore you must make a trial calculation before you begin in order
to estimate the total temperature increase during the experiment.

Start with the thermometer inserted in the calorimeter plus water reading Tinitial = RT – 2°C.
Your aim should be to do enough turns so that the temperature change is 4°C, or in other words,
that the final temperature of the thermometer reads Tfinal = RT + 2°C.

As with all experiments, more trials improve the statistics so we will repeat the measurements
for at least 5 trials. The basic procedure involves first measuring all the properties of the system that
will not change during the trials. The calorimeter diameter must be measured with a vernier, and the
calorimeter mass with the digital scale. Also measure the mass of the screw-on cap without the
thermometer. These are the numbers that will not change. All other measurements: starting and
finishing temperature and the mass of the filled calorimeter will likely change from trial to trial. A data
table has been provided at the end.

PRESENTATION:

Regardless of the apparatus used the calculation, we need to make a comparison between the
mechanical work done and the thermal energy measured in the calorimeter.

WORK:

Force = mg = _______________ newtons

Distance = Circumference = pD = ___________ meters

Mechanical work = (Force) (Distance) (# turns) = ________________ J

THERMAL ENERGY: Calculate each trial separately then average the results.

DT = ___________ °C

Mass of calorimeter: mCu = ____________ kg

mwater = ____________ kg

Q = (DT) (ccu mCu + cwater mwater)

Q = _______________ J
 DATA TABLE

Diameter ___________ Calorimeter mass __________ Cap mass __________

Hanging mass _______________

Trial RT start T start T finish DT (Cal + water) Number of
mass turns

± ± ± ± ± ±

ANALYSIS TABLE

Trial mwater Q (J) Work (J) % difference

1 ± ± ±

2 ± ± ±

3 ± ± ±

4 ± ± ±

5 ± ± ±

Conclusions:

1) Is 𝛿𝑄 overestimated, underestimated or reasonable for your trials? Is 𝛿𝑊 overestimated,

underestimated or reasonable for your trials? Explain what could be improved in the estimation
of 𝛿𝑄 and 𝛿𝑊.
2) Which is the least reliable estimation in your opinion, 𝛿𝑄 or 𝛿𝑊? Explain why.
3) Why did you start and end the experiment aiming at the same number of temperature degrees
(about 2 degrees) above and below room temperature? What effect were you trying to
minimize?

This lab is from Warasila et al Lab Manual.