THERMAL CONDUCTIVITY

MEASUREMENT FOR POOR CONDUCTOR.

( LEES DISC METHOD )

STUDENT NAME
GROUP

:
:

LECTURERS NAME : PROF.HANAFI ATAN

( EXAMINER )

FOR OFFICE USE ONLY

GRADE
:
COMMENTS :

OBJECTIVE
To determine the thermal conductivity of a poor conductor material by Lee's Disc
method.
APPARATUS
D.C Power supply, Lee's disc apparatus, rheostat, ammeter, voltmeter, thermometers and
oil.
INTRODUCTION
In this Lee's Disc method, Perspex as a poor conductor material is made into a thin disc
sandwiched between two copper discs.
The quantity Q/t is estimated from the heat emitted from the system when steady state is
reached. Experiments show that the rate at which the body emits thermal energy depends
only on the temperature in excess of the surroundings and on the nature of the surface.
We assume that all surfaces, including that of the poor conductor are coated in the same
manner so that they have the same emissivity .
It is advisable to learn more on heat conduction in materials from relevant text books and
then answer the following question :

1. Explain the physical process by which heat flow by conduction through matters in a
material.
Before heating, the particels or matters in the material are vibrating in their lattice
position. When they are subjected to heat, they gain energy ( from heat ) and vibrate more
vigorous. They collides with their neighbouring particles and thus the energy is
transferred from one to another. The transferred of energy always take place from the
region of higher temperature to the lower temperature.
Conduction of heat take place in all form of matter. In solid is due to the vibration of
molecules in a lattice and the energy is transferred by free electrons. In gases and liquid is
due to the collisions and diffusion of particles during random motion.

2. Explain the meaning and the physical impact for the variation in values of A, T-T' and
with respect to heat flow, h as shown by equation ( 3 ).
From the equation h=kA ( T T ) , h is directly proportional to A and ( T T ) and

inversely proportional to . Heat conduction occurs if theres difference in temperature

between two surfaces. Based on the equation, a larger cross-sectional area results in
higher rate of heat flow. Meanwhile, larger temperature difference ( T T ) also causes
higher rate of heat flow. But heat flow is slow for a very long . Good thermal conductor
will have large thermal conductivity value, K.

3. Explain the physical process which leads to steady state in a heat conduction
experiment.
Two surfaces in contact will result in the transfer of energy. The heat is transfer in two
direction however the rate of heat conduction from hotter surfaces to colder surface is
higher than that of the colder surfaces to hotter surface. Steady state is reached when the
rate of heat conduction is the same in both in and out direction, which is when the
temperature of two surfaces are the same.

4. Explain why temperature at steady state can be derived from the graph of T against 1/t.
From the graph of T against 1/t , the graph intercepts with y-axis when1/t = 0, which is
when t approaching to infinity ( t ) . This shown that the temperature is steady and
will not change with time after conducted for a very long time.

5. Explain whether instruction to conduct experiment for two different values of electrical
power, P will produce an expected results for the coefficient of thermal conduction, k or
otherwise.
The different values of P does not affect the result of thermal conduction. In fact, the
value of K should be the same for all experiment because k is constant which shows the
properties of a thermal conductor. It is indipendent of electrical power supply but
dependent on its type of material.

LEES DISC METHOD

DATA
THICKNESS OF THE DISC ( h )
DISC ( mm )
A
B
C
Perspex disc

h1
12.65
12.62
12.61
5.07

h2
12.75
12.6
12.62
5.1

h3
12.7
12.65
12.6
5.1

h
12.7
12.62
12.61
5.09

d2
41.35
41.25
41.30
41.75

d3
41.35
41.30
41.35
41.60

d
41.32
41.28
41.30
41.65

DIAMETER OF THE DISC ( d )

DISC ( mm )
A
B
C
Perspex disc

d1
41.25
41.30
41.25
41.60

Table 1 : I = 0.25 Ampere and V = 2 volt.

Time, t ( minutes )

1/t

TA

TB

TC

TB - TA

1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30

1.000
0.500
0.333
0.250
0.200
0.167
0.143
0.125
0.111
0.100
0.091
0.083
0.077
0.071
0.067
0.063
0.059
0.056
0.053
0.050
0.048
0.045
0.043
0.042
0.040
0.038
0.037
0.036
0.034
0.033

28.5
28.5
28.5
28.5
28.5
28.5
28.5
28.5
29.0
29.0
29.0
29.0
29.0
29.0
29.0
29.0
29.0
29.5
29.5
29.5
29.5
29.5
29.5
29.5
30.0
30.0
30.0
30.0
30.0
30.0

29.0
29.0
29.5
29.5
30.0
30.0
30.0
30.5
30.5
30.5
31.0
31.0
31.0
31.0
31.5
31.5
31.5
31.5
31.5
32.0
32.0
32.0
32.0
32.0
32.5
32.5
32.5
32.5
32.5
32.5

29.5
29.5
29.5
30.0
30.0
30.0
30.5
30.5
31.0
31.0
31.0
31.0
31.5
31.5
31.5
31.5
31.5
32.0
32.0
32.0
32.0
32.0
32.0
32.5
32.5
33.0
33.0
33.0
33.0
33.0

0.5
0.5
1.0
1.0
1.5
1.5
1.5
2.0
1.5
1.5
2.0
2.0
2.0
2.0
2.5
2.5
2.5
2.0
2.0
2.5
2.5
2.5
2.5
2.5
2.5
2.5
2.5
2.5
2.5
2.5

Table 2 : I = 0.30 Ampere and V = 2 volt.

Time, t ( minutes )

1/t

TA

TB

TC

TB - TA

1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30

1.000
0.500
0.333
0.250
0.200
0.167
0.143
0.125
0.111
0.100
0.091
0.083
0.077
0.071
0.067
0.063
0.059
0.056
0.053
0.050
0.048
0.045
0.043
0.042
0.040
0.038
0.037
0.036
0.034
0.033

26.0
26.0
26.0
26.0
26.5
26.5
26.5
27.0
27.0
27.5
27.5
27.5
28.0
28.0
28.0
28.5
28.5
28.5
29.0
29.0
29.5
29.5
30.0
30.0
30.0
30.5
30.5
30.5
31.0
31.0

28.5
28.5
28.5
29.0
29.5
30.0
30.5
31.0
31.5
31.5
32.0
32.5
33.0
33.0
33.5
34.0
34.0
34.5
35.0
35.0
35.5
35.5
36.0
36.0
36.5
36.5
37.0
37.0
37.0
37.0

28.5
28.5
28.5
29.0
30.0
30.0
30.5
31.0
31.5
32.0
32.5
32.5
33.0
33.5
34.0
34.0
34.5
35.0
35.0
35.5
35.5
36.0
36.0
36.5
36.5
37.0
37.0
37.0
37.5
37.5

2.5
2.5
2.5
3.0
3.0
3.5
4.0
4.0
4.5
4.0
4.5
5.0
5.0
5.0
5.5
5.5
5.5
6.0
6.0
6.0
6.0
6.0
6.0
6.0
6.5
6.0
6.5
6.5
6.0
6.5

Table 3 : I = 0.35 Ampere and V = 2 volt.

Time, t ( minutes )

1/t

TA

TB

TC

TB - TA

1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30

1.000
0.500
0.333
0.250
0.200
0.167
0.143
0.125
0.111
0.100
0.091
0.083
0.077
0.071
0.067
0.063
0.059
0.056
0.053
0.050
0.048
0.045
0.043
0.042
0.040
0.038
0.037
0.036
0.034
0.033

26.0
26.0
26.0
26.0
26.0
26.0
26.5
26.5
26.5
26.5
26.5
26.5
27.0
27.0
27.0
27.0
27.0
27.0
27.0
27.5
27.5
27.5
27.5
27.5
27.5
27.5
28.0
28.0
28.0
28.0

26.5
26.5
27.0
27.0
27.0
27.5
27.5
27.5
28.0
28.0
28.0
28.5
28.5
28.5
29.0
29.0
29.0
29.0
29.0
29.5
29.5
29.5
29.5
29.5
30.0
30.0
30.0
30.0
30.0
30.0

27.0
27.0
27.0
27.5
27.5
27.5
28.0
28.0
28.5
28.5
28.5
29.0
29.0
29.0
29.5
29.5
29.5
29.5
30.0
30.0
30.0
30.0
30.0
30.0
30.5
30.5
30.5
30.5
30.5
30.5

0.5
0.5
1.0
1.0
1.0
1.5
1.0
1.0
1.5
1.5
1.5
2.0
1.5
1.5
2.0
2.0
2.0
2.0
2.0
2.0
2.0
2.0
2.0
2.0
2.5
2.5
2.0
2.0
2.0
2.0

CALCULATION.

1. Calculate the cross-sectional area of the copper and perspex discs.

Area of disc A, aA.
Area of disc A = cross-sectional area of A + area of curved surface
= rA + 2 rAhA
= dA + 2dAhA
4
2
= ( 41.32 X 10 )
4

( 41.32 ) ( 12.70 X 10 )

= 1.65 m .

Area of disc B, aB.

Area of disc B = area of curved surface
= 2dBhB
2
= ( 41.28 X 10 )
= 1.637 X 10 m

( 12.62 X 10 )

Area of disc C, aC.

Area of disc C = area of curved surface
= 2dChC
2
= ( 41.30 X 10 )
= 1.6361 X 10 m

Area of perspex,

aS.

( 12.61 X 10 )

Area of perspex = area of curved surface

= 2

( dS ) hS
2

= ( 41.65 X 10 )
= 6.66 E-4 m

( 5.09 X 10 )

Cross-sectional area of Perspex, A

A = ds = ( 41.65 X 10
4
4

1.3624 X 10 m

2. Calculate the value of K and estimate its errors.

( It is important to note that the temperature at steady state obtained from the graph, T
against 1/t should have been equal to the value obtained directly from the thermometer.
There is no way to obtain the precise value for temperature at steady state through
experiment, therefore the average value for both temperature must be determined and
used in calculation).

Calculation of Thermal Conductivity from table 1, K1

1) Temperature of Disc A, TA
Temperature at steady state from the experiment = 30C
Temperature at steady state from the graph = 28.5C
Average temperature = 29.25C
2) Temperature of Disc B, TB
Temperature at steady state from the experiment = 32.5C
Temperature at steady state from the graph = 29C
Average temperature = 30.75C
3) Temperature of Disc C, TC
Temperature at steady state from the experiment = 33C
Temperature at steady state from the graph = 29.5C
Average temperature = 31.25C
4) The difference in temperature between Disc A and Disc B, ( TB - TA )
Temperature at steady state from the experiment = 2.5C
Temperature at steady state from the graph = 0.5C
Average temperature = 1.5C
5) Temperature of Perspexs plate, Ts
Ts = ( TA + TB )
= ( 29.25 + 30.75 )
= 30C

6) K1

IV ( asTs + 2aA TA )

( aATA + asTs + aBTB + acTC ) [ 2A ( TB TA )]

= ( 0.25)(2)(5.09 x 10 ) [( 6.66 E-4 x 30 ) + 2 ( 1.65 x 29.25 ) ]
(1.65 x 29.25)+(6.66 E-4 x 30)+(1.637x10 x 30.75)+(1.6361x10 x31.25)[2(1.3624)(1.5)]

= 2.545 x 10 ( 96.545 )
48.364 ( 4.0872 x 10 )
K1 = 1.243 x 10 Wm C

Calculation of Thermal Conductivity from table 2, K2

1) Temperature of Disc A, TA

Temperature at steady state from the experiment = 31C

Temperature at steady state from the graph = 26C
Average temperature = 28.5C
2) Temperature of Disc B, TB
Temperature at steady state from the experiment = 37C
Temperature at steady state from the graph = 28.5C
Average temperature = 32.75C
3) Temperature of Disc C, TC
Temperature at steady state from the experiment = 37.5C
Temperature at steady state from the graph = 28.5C
Average temperature = 33C
4) The difference in temperature between Disc A and Disc B, ( TB - TA )
Temperature at steady state from the experiment = 6.5C
Temperature at steady state from the graph = 2C
Average temperature = 4.25C
5) Temperature of Perspexs plate, Ts
Ts = ( TA + TB )
= ( 28.5 + 32.75 )
= 30.63 C

6) K2

IV ( asTs + 2aA TA )
( aATA + asTs + aBTB + acTC ) [ 2A ( TB TA )]

= ( 0.3 )( 2 ) ( 5.09 x 10 ) [( 6.66 E-4 x 30.63 ) + 2 ( 1.65 x 28.5 ) ]

(1.65x28.5) + (6.66 E-4 x 30.63) + (1.637x10 x30.75)+(1.6361x10 )[2(1.3624 x10 )(4.25 )]

= 0.2873
0.5460
K2 = 0.525 Wm C

Calculation of Thermal Conductivity from table 3, K3

1) Temperature of Disc A, TA
Temperature at steady state from the experiment = 28C
Temperature at steady state from the graph = 30C
Average temperature = 29C
2) Temperature of Disc B, TB
Temperature at steady state from the experiment = 30C
Temperature at steady state from the graph =26.5 C
Average temperature = 28.25C
3) Temperature of Disc C, TC
Temperature at steady state from the experiment =30.5C
Temperature at steady state from the graph =27C
Average temperature = 28.75C
4) The difference in temperature between Disc A and Disc B, ( TB - TA )
Temperature at steady state from the experiment = 2C
Temperature at steady state from the graph = 0.5C
Average temperature = 1.25C
5) Temperature of Perspexs plate, Ts
Ts = ( TA + TB )
= ( 29 + 28.25 )
= 28.625 C

6) K3

IV ( asTs + 2aA TA )

( aATA + asTs + aBTB + acTC ) [ 2A ( TB TA )]

= ( 0.35 )( 2 ) (5.09 x 10 ) [( 6.66 E-4 x 28.625 ) + 2 ( 1.65 x 29 ) ]
( 1.65 x29 ) + (6.66 E-4 x 28.25) + (1.637x10 x 28.75) + (1.6361x10 x28.75) [2(1.3624 x10 )(4.25 )]

= 0.7168
0.5460
K3 = 0.614 Wm C

3. Calculate the average value of K .

K = K1 + K2 + K3

3
= 1.243 x 10 + 0.525 + 0.614
3
= 0.38 Wm C

DISCUSSION.
1. From the experiments the value of thermal conductivity, K which obtained from
different value of currents and voltage are :K1 = 1.243 x 10 Wm C
K2 = 0.525 Wm C
K3 = 0.614 Wm C

K = 0.38 Wm C
The results obtained are slightly different among themselves therefore , it can be
conclude that the value of K is the same for the given conducting material, regardless the
current and the voltage applied.

2. The range of K1 is 1.243 x 10 Wm C

The range of K2 is 0.525 Wm C

The range of K3 is 0.614 Wm C

The theoretical value of K for Perspex is about 0.20 Wm C. The above results are
slightly deviated from the standard value. The deviation of the value maybe caused by
some error during the experiment such as :a) The flow of the air is not stable because the experiment was carried out under airconditioned. This will increased the heat lost to the surrounding.
b) The improper contact of thermometer and the copper disc results in unconsistent
reading of the temperature.
c) There are heat lost to the surrounding such as oil, thermometer, air and others.
d) Parallax error when taking reading from the experiment.

PRECAUTIONS
1. Switch off the air-conditioner and fan while carried on the experiment to minimize heat
lost to surrounding.

2. Add a drop of oil into the holes to ensure good thermal contact between disc and
thermometer.
3.Avoid parallax error. Ensure that the line of vision of observer is perpendicular to
thermometer scale.
4. Make sure that voltage reading is not exceed 5V as current may melt down the thin
heating element wire.
5. Maintain both voltage and current throughout the experiment.
6. Clean Perspex and copper plate properly before starts the experiments.

CONCLUSIONS.

Based on the experiments, the value of Thermal Conductivity of Perspex, K is 0.38

Wm C. The value of K is almost constant for every different values of current and
voltage.