LABORATORY MANUAL

LABORATORY MANUAL

 

To study the relationship between the temperature of a hot body and
time by plotting a cooling curve.


Newton’s law of cooling apparatus that includes a copper calorimeter
with a wooden lid having two holes for inserting a thermometer and a
stirrer and an open double – walled vessel, two celsius thermometers
(each with least count 0.5 oC or 0.1 oC), a stop clock/watch, a heater/
burner, liquid (water), a clamp stand, two rubber stoppers with holes,
strong cotton thread and a beaker.


As shown in Fig. E 14.1, the law of cooling
T2 T1
apparatus has a double walled container, which
100

100
90

90

can be closed by an insulating lid. Water filled

80

80

Stirrer
70

70

between double walls ensures that the temperature

60

60

of the environment surrounding the calorimeter

50

50

Lid
40

40

remains constant. Temperature of the liquid and

30

30

the calorimeter also remains constant for a fairly

20

20
10

10

long period of time so that temperature

0

Double walled measurement is feasible. Temperature of water in

-10

-10

container calorimeter and that of water between double walls

of container is recorded by two thermometers.
Calorimeter


The rate at which a hot body loses heat is directly
proportional to the difference between the
temperature of the hot body and that of its
Fig.E 14.1: Newton's law of cooling apparatus surroundings and depends on the nature of
material and the surface area of the body. This is
Newton’s law of cooling.
For a body of mass m and specific heat s, at its initial temperature θ
104 higher than its surrounding’s temperature θo, the rate of loss of heat

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UNIT NAME

dQ
is , where dQ is the amount of heat lost by the hot body to its
dt
surroundings in a small interval of time.
Following Newton’s law of cooling we have

dQ
Rate of loss of heat, = – k (θ – θo) (E 14.1)
dt

dQ dθ
Also = ms (E 14.2)
dt dt

Using Eqs. (E 14.1) and (E 14.2), the rate of fall of temperature is given by
dθ k
=– (θ – θo) (E 14.3)
dt ms
where k is the constant of proportionality and k ′ = k/ms is another
constant (The term ms also includes the water equivalent of the
calorimeter with which the experiment is performed). Negative sign
appears in Eqs. (E 14.2) and (E 14.3) because loss of heat implies
temperature decrease. Eq. (E 14.3) may be re written as
dθ = - k′ (θ – θo) dt
On integrating, we get
dθ
= − k ' dt
θ – θo

or ln (θ – θo) = loge (θ – θo) = – k′t + c

or ln (θ – θo) = 2.303 log10 (θ – θo) = – k′t + c (E 14.4)

where c is the constant of integration.

Eq. (E 14.4) shows that the shape of a plot between log10 (θ – θo) and t
will be a straight line.



1. Find the least counts of thermometers T1 and T2. Take some water
in a beaker and measure its temperature (at room temperature θo)
with one (say T1) of the thermometers.
2. Examine the working of the stop-watch/clock and find its least count.
3. Pour water into the double- walled container (enclosure) at room
temperature. Insert the other thermometer T2 in water contained
in it, with the help of the clamp stand.
4. Heat some water separately to a temperature of about 40 oC above
the room temperature θo. Pour hot water in calorimeter up to its top.
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LABORATORY MANUAL

5. Put the calorimeter, with hot water, back in the enclosure and
cover it with the lid having holes. Insert the thermometer T1 and
the stirrer in the calorimeter through the holes provided in the
lid, as shown in Fig. E14.1.
6. Note the initial temperature of the water between enclosure of
double wall with the thermometer T2, when the difference of
readings of two thermometers T 1 and T2 is about 30 oC. Note the
initial reading of the thermometer T1.
7. Keep on stirring the water gently and constantly. Note the
reading of thermometer T1, first after about every half a minute,
then after about one minute and finally after two minutes
duration or so.
8. Keep on simultaneously noting the reading of the stop-watch and
that of the thermometer T1, while stirring water gently and
constantly, till the temperature of water in the calorimeter falls to
a temperature of about 5 oC above that of the enclosure. Note the
temperature of the enclosure, by the thermometer T2.
9. Record observations in tabular form. Find the excess of
temperature (θ − θο) and also log10 (θ − θο) for each reading, using
logarithmic tables. Record these values in the corresponding
columns in the table.
10. Plot a graph between time t, taken along x-axis and log10 (θ – θo)
taken along y-axis. Interpret the graph.

 
Least count of both the identical thermometers = ... °C
Least count of stop-watch/clock = ... s
Initial temperature of water in the enclosure θ1 = ... °C
Final temperature of water in the enclosure θ2 = ... oC
Mean temperature of the water in the enclosure θο = (θ1 + θ2)/2 = ... oC
Table E 14.1: Measuring the change in temperature of water with time

S. Time (t) Temperature Excess Temperature log10 ( – 0)

No. (s) of hot water of hot water ( – 0)
 °C °C
1
2
.
.
20

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 
(i) Plot a graph between (θ – θo) and t as shown in Fig. E 14.2 taking t
along x-axis and (θ – θo) along y-axis. This is called cooling curve.
(ii) Also plot a graph between log10 (θ - θo) and time t, as shown in Fig.
E 14.3 taking time t along x-axis and log10 (θ - θo) along y-axis.
Choose suitable scales on these axes. Identify the shape of the
cooling curve and the other graph.

Fig.E 14.2: Graph between (θ – θo) and t for Fig.E 14.3: Graph between log10 (θ – θo) and t
cooling

 
The cooling curve is an exponential decay curve (Fig. E 14.2). It is
observed from the graph that the logarithm of the excess of temperature
of hot body over that of its surroundings varies linearly with time as
the body cools.

 
1. The water in the calorimeter should be gently stirred continuously.
2. Ideally the space between the double walls of the surrounding
vessel should be filled with flowing water to make it an enclosure
having a constant temperature.
3. Make sure that the openings for inserting thermometers are air
tight and no heat is lost to the surroundings through these.
4. The starting temperature of water in the calorimeter should be
about 30°C above the room temperature.


1. Some personal error is always likely to be involved due to delay in
starting or stopping the stop-watch. Take care in starting and
stopping the stop-watch.
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2. The accuracy of the result depends mainly on the simultaneous

measurement of temperature of hot water (decrease in
temperature being fast in the beginning and then comparatively
slower afterwards) and the time. Take special care while reading
the stop-watch and the thermometer simultaneously.
3. If the opening for the thermometer is not airtight, some loss of heat
can occur.
4. The temperature of the water in enclosure is not constant.

 
Each body radiates heat and absorbs heat radiated by the other. The
warmer one (here the calorimeter) radiates more and receives less.
Radiation by surface occurs at all temperatures. Higher the
temperature difference with the surroundings, higher is rate of heat
radiation. Here the enclosure is at a lower temperature so it radiates
less but receives more from the calorimeter. So, finally the calorimeter
dominates in the process.



1. State Newton's law of cooling and express this law mathematically.
2. Does the Newton’s law of cooling hold good for all temperature
differences?
3. How is Newton's law of cooling different from Stefan's law of heat
radiation?
4. What is the shape of cooling curve?
5. Find the specific heat of a solid/liquid using Newton's law of
cooling apparatus.

SUGGESTED ADDITIONAL EXPERIMENTS/ACTIVITIES

1. Find the slope and intercept on y-axis of the straight line graph (Fig.
E 14.2) you have drawn. Determine the value of constant k and the
constant of integration c from this graph.

[Hint: Eq. (E 14.4) is similar to the equation of a straight line: y =

m′ x + c′ , with m′ as the slope of the straight line and c′ the
intercept on y-axis. It is clear m′ = k′ /2.303 and c′ = c' × 2.303.]

2. The cooling experiment is performed with the calorimeter, filled with

same volume of water and turpentine oil successively, by maintaining
the same temperature difference between the calorimeter and the
surrounding enclosure. What ratio of the rates of heat loss would
you expect in this case?

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