Mixing Warm and Cold Water

Introduction

Heat can be defined as energy transferred between matter because of differences in temperature. The ability of matter to transfer heat depends on its mass and temperature. A calorimeter is an instrument used to measure changes in heat energy. You can make a simple calorimeter using a Styrofoam cup to contain water, a beaker for more insulation and support, and a Temperature Probe to measure temperatures. The joule (J) is the SI unit for heat energy. An equation that can be used to calculate change in heat energy is

where H = heat absorbed or released (in J), Δt = change in temperature (in °C), m = mass (in g), and C_p = specific heat capacity (4.18 J/g°C for water).

Objectives

In this experiment, you will

• Construct and use a simple calorimeter.
• Measure temperature.
• Mix cold and warm water.
• Determine heat lost by cooling water.
• Determine heat gained by warming water.
• Compare heat lost by cooling water and heat gained by warming water.

Sensors and Equipment

This experiment features the following Vernier sensors and equipment.

Option 1

Option 2

Additional Requirements

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