Thermal Equilibrium Lab Activity
1. Go to the following site:
http://aventalearning.com/content168staging/2007PhysicsA/labs/thermal/lab.html
2. Follow the instructions at the bottom of the screen (there are four steps…you’ll need to
scroll to view them all). Be sure to record the initial and final temperatures of each
substance in the “Experiment 1” data table and answer the associated questions.
3. Click on “Experiment 3” at the top of the virtual lab site. Conduct the procedure for this
experiment. Record the necessary data, calculations and responses for Experiment 3.
4. Submit this document via the Thermal Equilibrium Lab dropbox.
Experiment 1:
To study the dependence of heat flow due to the temperature difference between two objects.
Use the table below to record your data for Experiment 1.
Experiment 1
Cube A
Cube B
Initial
Temperature
(°C)
Thermal equilibrium
temperature
(°C)
Initial
Temperature
(°C)
Thermal equilibrium
temperature
(°C)
100
50
0
50
What is the equilibrium temperature of the two masses? Does this seem reasonable? Why or why not?
Experiment 3:
To study the dependence of heat flow due to the temperature difference between two objects of
different composition.
Use the table below to record your data for Experiment 3.
Experiment 3
Cube A
Initial
Temperature
(°C)
Thermal
equilibrium
temperature
(°C)
100
30.74
Composition
of cube
(roll your cursor
over the cube
to see what it is
made of)
copper
Cube B
Mass of
Cube
(kg)
Initial
Temperature
(°C)
Thermal
equilibrium
temperature
(°C)
1
0
30.82
Composition
of cube
(roll your cursor
over the cube
to see what it is
made of)
Mass of
Cube
(kg)
alluminum
Using the data collected for Experiment 3 and the equation Q = mcT, determine the amount of heat
given up by Mass A and the amount of heat gained by Mass B. Note:
ccopper = 387 J/(kg•°C)
caluminum = 899 J/(kg•°C)
Record the amount of heat gained/lost by each substance below. How does the amount of heat given up
by Mass A compare to the amount of heat gained by Mass B? Does this seem reasonable? Why or why
not?
Q= energy transfer
M= mass of substance
C= specific heat capacity
Delta T= change in temperature
Copper;
Q= 1kgX387X(30.74-100)=
Aluminum;
Q= 1kgX399X(30.82-0)=
Compare:
1