Vernier Software & Technology

# Energy Content of Fuels

## Introduction

Energy content is an important property of fuels. This property helps scientists and engineers determine the usefulness of a fuel. Energy content is the amount of heat produced by the burning of 1 gram of a substance, and is measured in joules per gram (J/g).

You can determine energy content of a fuel by burning an amount of the fuel and capturing the heat released in a known mass of water in a calorimeter. If you measure the initial and final temperatures, the energy released can be calculated using the equation

$H = \Delta t \cdot m \cdot C_p$

where H = heat energy absorbed (in J), Δt = change in temperature (in °C), m = mass (in g), and Cp = specific heat capacity (4.18 J/g°C for water). Dividing the resulting energy value by grams of food burned gives the energy content (in J/g).

## Objectives

In this experiment, you will

• Measure temperature.
• Analyze data.
• Use a balance.
• Determine energy content.
• Compare the energy content of different fuels.

## Sensors and Equipment

This experiment features the following Vernier sensors and equipment.

### Option 2

You may also need an interface and software for data collection. What do I need for data collection?

## Agricultural Science with Vernier

See other experiments from the lab book.

 1 Introduction to Data Collection 2 Acids and Bases 3 Diffusion through Membranes 4 Conducting Solutions 5 Osmosis 6 Respiration of Sugars by Yeast 7 Reflection and Absorption of Light 8 Soil pH 9 Soil Salinity 10 Soil Temperature 11 Soil Moisture 12A Photosynthesis and Respiration (CO2) 12B Photosynthesis and Respiration (O2) 12C Photosynthesis and Respiration (CO2 and O2) 13 Transpiration 14A Cell Respiration (CO2) 14B Cell Respiration (O2) 14C Cell Respiration (CO2 and O2) 15 The Greenhouse Effect 16 Energy in Food 17A Enzyme Action: Testing Catalase Activity 17B Enzyme Action: Testing Catalase Activity 18A Lactase Action 18B Lactase Action 19 Oxygen Gas and Human Respiration 20 Biochemical Oxygen Demand 21 Animal Temperature 22 Lemon "Juice" 23 Ohm's Law 24 Energy Content of Fuels 25 Photovoltaic Cells 26 Wind Power 27 Watershed Testing 28 Interdependence of Plants and Animals 29 Biodiversity and Ecosystems

### Experiment 24 from Agricultural Science with Vernier Lab Book

#### Included in the Lab Book

Vernier lab books include word-processing files of the student instructions, essential teacher information, suggested answers, sample data and graphs, and more.