Thermal Equilibrium Lab

Design an Experiment: The zeroth law of thermodynamics involves the subject of thermal
equilibrium, which is a higher temperature object will transfer heat to a lower temperature object.
Then the objects will approach the same temperature, and with the absence of lost to other
objects, they will remain a constant temperature. To prove this with an experiment, one could
analyze the effect of 15 minutes to 3 glasses of water of different temperatures: ice, room, and
hot water. Materials needed would be a thermometer, and beakers for the water. The results
expected would be the ice water will warm up, the room temperature water would stay the
same, and the hot water would cool down. However, for 15 minutes the water temperatures
would not reach thermal equilibrium, but if they were measured for a longer period of time they
would. If the results were different, changes in the constants, like the amount of water, type of
thermometer, type of beaker, and the temperature in the room, could be indicated.

Hypothesis:
According to the zeroth law of thermodynamics, the difference in temperature of the two
objects will affect the final temperature, because if one temperature is higher it will transfer heat
to the lower temperature object. Additionally, the smaller the mass is will show a greater
increase in temperature. Also, the composition will affect the final temperature, because some
materials conduct heat better, which means a material that does not conduct heat well could
have a decreasing effect on the temperature.


Procedure:
1. The first step is to complete experiments 1 through 4, which entails dragging the
boxes of different material and copper rod, along with the thermoteres to the table.
2. Then recording the initial temperature, and after pressing start the final temperature.
3. Each experiment requires the additional data: T and change in heat.

Data:

Object Mass (kg) Initial
Temperature
()
Final
Temperature
()
T Change in
Heat
Q=mcT
block A
copper
1.0 kg 100.0 50.0 -50.0 -19.25
Block B
copper
1.0 kg 0.0 50.0 50.0 19.25


Experiment 2- took longer because mass was greater


Object Mass (kg) Initial
Temperature
()
Final
Temperature
()
T Change in
Heat
Q=mcT
block A
copper
3.0 kg 100.0 75.0 -25.0 -28.88
Block B
copper
1.0 kg 0.0 75.0 75.0 28.88




Expierment 3

Object Mass (kg) Initial
Temperature
()
Final
Temperature
()
T Change in
Heat
Q=mcT
block A
copper
1.0 kg 100.0 30.82 -69.18 -26.63
Block B
aluminum
1.0 kg 0.0 30.82 30.82 27.74


Experiment 4

Object Mass
(kg)
Initial
Temp(
)
temp
() at
0:30
temp ()
at 1:00
temp ()
at 1:30
temp
() at
2:00
temp
() at
2:30
temp
() at
3:00
temp
() at
3:30
temp
() at
4:00
Change
in Heat
Q=mcT
Block A
Aluminu
m
1kg 100.0 64.47 48.67 41.63 38.51 37.12 36.50 36.72 36.07 -24.61
Block B
Copper
4kg 0.0 19.9 28.88 32.83 34.59 35.37 35.72 35.88 35.96 129.456



















Data Analysis:
Conclusion:

1. The equilibrium temperature is 50 degrees celsius and the change in temperature for A and B is the
same because the constants for the two blocks are equal. They are the same mass and consist of the
same concentration.

2. In experiment 2, the final temperature was higher than in experiment 2. This is due to block A being
heavier in mass, this caused the temperature in A to decrease slower, and the temperature in B to rise
more quickly. This relates back to my hypothesis, proving that smaller the mass, greater the increase in
temperature.

3. The specific heat for Al is 0.900. To find Q, which is the quality of heat needed, here are the steps:
Q/ m t = c (specific heat)
Q/ (1kg)(-69.18)=0.900
Then you solve for Q.

4. For Block A, which is aluminum, the temperature decreased at each 30 second interval, going from
100 to 36.07. Block B, which was composed of copper, increased going from 0.0 to 35.96 at the
4:00 minute mark. The change in temperature is lower for Cu than Al, because it has a heavier mass.