SAINT MARY'S UNIVERSITY

SCHOOL OF ENGINEERING, ARCHITECTURE AND INFORMATION

TECHNOLOGY
Bayombong, Nueva Vizcaya

ZEROTH LAW OF THERMODYNAMICS

Physics for Engineers 2

Class Code – 4001

Virtual Laboratory Activity

Submitted by:

Jan Denver M. Agustin

Submitted to:

Engr. Angelino A. Pimentel, PhD (in progress)

 SAINT MARY'S UNIVERSITY
SCHOOL OF ENGINEERING, ARCHITECTURE AND INFORMATION
TECHNOLOGY
Bayombong, Nueva Vizcaya

Physics for Engineers – Code: 4001

Virtual Laboratory Activity: ZEROTH LAW OF THERMODYNAMICS

Experimental Observations and Analysis Report

A. Objectives:

 To explain the basic concept of the Zeroth Law of Thermodynamics through hands-on
experimentation
 To have a deeper grasp of the concepts pertaining Zeroth Law of Thermodynamics
 To prove that temperature is a fundamental indicator of thermal equilibrium

B. Procedure:

1. Prepare hot, cold and regular tap water in a glass, beaker, or any open container
(preferably the tap water container must be bigger or wider than the cold and hot water
containers)

2. At the same time, place a thermometer in each glass, beaker, or any open container

3. Record the initial temperature of the water inside each container.

4. Carefully place the smaller containers with cold and hot water inside the bigger or wider
regular tap water container

5. After t=5 minutes, observe and record the readings of temperature shown on the
thermometers

6. After a period of time, observe and record the final readings of temperature shown on the
thermometers.

7. Analyze the readings of temperature and explain its relation with the Zeroth Law of
Thermodynamics
 SAINT MARY'S UNIVERSITY
SCHOOL OF ENGINEERING, ARCHITECTURE AND INFORMATION
TECHNOLOGY
Bayombong, Nueva Vizcaya

C. Experimental Set-up:
1. Materials

Hot water Cold water

Thermometers
Tap water

Three glasses, beaker, or any open container Timer

Table 1. Materials for the experiment

2. Set-up
 SAINT MARY'S UNIVERSITY
SCHOOL OF ENGINEERING, ARCHITECTURE AND INFORMATION
TECHNOLOGY
Bayombong, Nueva Vizcaya

Set-up 1 Set-up 2

Table 2. Set-ups for the experiment

D. Observation and Analysis:

Initial Reading (T1) After 5 minutes (T2) ∆T

Hot water 62.3°C 48.3°C 14°C

Cold water 6.6°C 14.5°C 7.9°C

Tap water 28.5°C 28.1 0.4°C

Table 3. Initial data gathered during the experiment

From the data gathered, the initial temperature reading of the hot water is 62.3°C, the cold water
is 6.6°C and the tap water 28.5°C. After 5 minutes of placing the smaller containers (hot and cold) into
the bigger container containing tap water, the temperature of the hot water drops to 48.3°C, on the other
hand, the temperature of the cold water increased to 14.5°C, while the temperature of the cold water
became 28.1°C. This indicates that as the hot water and the cold water in their respective containers, when
immersed into the tap water container, the hot water losses heat energy and the cold water gains heat
energy. Thus, indicating that heat energy flows from a body at higher temperature to a lower temperature.

Final Reading (Tf)

Hot water 28.3°C

 SAINT MARY'S UNIVERSITY
SCHOOL OF ENGINEERING, ARCHITECTURE AND INFORMATION
TECHNOLOGY
Bayombong, Nueva Vizcaya

Cold water 28.3°C

Tap water 28.3°C

Table 3.1. Final data gathered during the experiment

After a period of time, all the thermometers immersed in the liquids showed the same reading of
temperature which is 28.3°C. This indicates that there is no more transfer of heat between the containers.
This reiterates that when the temperature of three bodies in thermal contact becomes equal thermal
equilibrium takes place.

To elaborate, the Zeroth Law of Thermodynamics on our observation, states that if two bodies are each in
thermal equilibrium with some third body, then they are also in equilibrium with each other. Hence in the
experiment, the two bodies specifically the hot and cold water was in thermal equilibrium with the tap
water, thus, making them in thermal equilibrium with each other at the time when their temperatures
became equal. This is where the significance of the Zeroth Law lies for the reason that it lets us establish
temperature as a measurable and universal property or matter.

E. Conclusion:

From the conducted experiment, the Zeroth Law of Thermodynamics was clearly observed and explained
hence the three bodies reached thermal equilibrium after a period of time. The experiment proved that the
temperature is a fundamental indicator of thermal equilibrium. The time that the three bodies became
equal in temperature, we concluded that they reached the state of thermal equilibrium. The scale used in
this experiment is the most common scale named after a Swedish scientist Anders Celsius. He uses the
point of water freezing as the 0 point on the scale and the boiling of water as the 100 th degree on the scale.
The conducted experiment has provided means of measuring temperature at a certain time for the
gathering of data needed in explaining the Zeroth Law of Thermodynamics

F. Recommendations:

Precise reading of temperature. This would make the experiment more valid.

Type of thermometer to be used. Liquid type thermometer suits more or are more applicable
in this kind of experiment since they are simple, inexpensive, long lasting, and able to measure
a wide temperature span.

Containers to be used. Spacious container specifically for the tap water is recommended for
better view of temperature and better placement for the smaller hot and cold water containers.
 SAINT MARY'S UNIVERSITY
SCHOOL OF ENGINEERING, ARCHITECTURE
AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY