ACTIVITIES 1: TO OBSERVE CHANGE OF STATE AND PLOT A COOLING CURVE FOR MOLTEN WAX

AIM:

To observe change of state and plot a cooling curve for molten wax.

APPARATUS:

A uniform straight wooden metre rod (scale). Two G clamp, pointer pin, thread, slotted weights of 50 g each, wax,
vertical scale, clamp stand.

THEORY:

(a) For cooling

The depression (buckling) δ produced in the wooden rod of length l.
δ=(mgl3 ) / (4Ybd3)
m= Total mass of slotted weights
Y = Young modulus
b= breadth
d=depth
for a given rod, δ α mg
i.e., the depression produced is directly proportional to the load (weight) suspended from one end.
(b) For change of state when molten wax cools down to its freezing point, it starts solidifying and the
temperature becomes constant.
The curve becomes horizontal thereafter (parallel to time – axis) as shown in graph.
Graph

Procedure

• Fill the space between double wall of the enclosure with water and put the enclosure on a laboratory table.
• Fill the calorimeter two-third with molten wax heated to about 80°C.
• Suspend the calorimeter inside the enclosure along with a stirrer in it. Cover it with a wooden lid having a
hole in its middle.
• Suspend from clamp and stand, one thermometer in enclosure molten wax and the other in calorimeter
water.
• Note least count of the thermometers.
• Set the stop clock/watch at zero and note its least count.
• Note temperature (T0) of water in enclosure.
 • Start stirring the water in calorimeter to make it cool uniformly.
• When temperature of wax falls to about 80°C note it and start the stop clock.
• Continue stirring and note temperature after every one minute.
• Note enclosure water temperature after every five minutes.
• When fall of temperature stops, remove the lid and note that the wax in calorimeter starts
solidifying.
• Temperature remains same till all the wax in calorimeter solidifies.
• Watch the constant temperature for some minutes.
• Record your observations as given below.

Observations
Least count of enclosure thermometer = ……….°C.
Constant temperature of enclosure, θ0 = ……….°C
Least count of calorimeter-wax thermometer = …………°C.
Least count of stop clock/watch = ………..s.
Table for time and temperature

Plot a graph between time t and temperature 0, taking t along X-axis and 0 along Y-axis. The decreasing slope curve
is called cooling curve of molten wax.The horizontal straight line is called freezing curve of the wax.

Result

1. The temperature falls quickly in the beginning and then slowly.

2. When wax starts freezing, the temperature does not fall further. The freezing point comes to be 50°C as
calculated from graph.

Precautions

1. The metre scale should be straight and uniform and clamped firmly.
2. The tip of pointer should not touch the vertical scale.
3. The scale should not be loaded beyond the elastic limit.
4. Reading on metre scale should be taken carefully.

Sources of error

1. The metre scale may be non-uniform.

2. The tip of pointer may not be very sharp.
ACTIVITY 2: To Study the Effect of Detergent on Surface Tension of Water by Observing Capillary Rise

Aim
To study the effect of detergent on surface tension of water by observing capillary rise.

Apparatus
Three capillary tubes of different radii and a tipped pointer clamped in a metallic plate with a handle, travelling
microscope, clamp and stand, a fine motion adjustable height stand, a flat bottom open dish, clean water in a beaker,
thermometer.

Theory
A detergent when added to distilled water reduces surface tension of water. If we use same capillary tube to study
the rise of pure distilled water and then the rise of detergent mixed water (solution), we shall find that the rise will be
less in case of solution. If quantity of detergent (solution concentration) is increased, rise will be still lesser.

Diagram

Procedure
(a) Setting the apparatus
1. Place the adjustable height stand on the table and make its base horizontal by level-ling screws.
2. Take dirt and grease free water in an open dish with flat bottom and put it on the top of the stand.
3. Take three capillary tubes of different radii (ranging from 0.05 mm to 0.15 mm).
4. Clean and dry them, clamp the capillary tubes in a metallic plate in order of increasing radius. Also clamp a
pointer after third capillary tube.
5. Clamp the horizontal handle of the metallic plate in a vertical stand, so that the capillary tubes and the pointer
become vertical.
6. So adjust the height of metallic plate that the capillary tubes dip in water in open dish.
7. Adjust the position of the pointer, such that its tip just touches the water surface.
(b) Measurement of capillary rise
8. Find the least count of the travelling microscope for the horizontal and the vertical scale. Record the same in the
note-book.
9. Raise the microscope to a suitable height, keeping its axis horizontal and pointed towards the capillary tubes.
10. Bring the microscope in front of first capillary tube (which has maximum rise).
11. Make the horizontal cross wire just touch the central part of the concave meniscus seen convex through
microscope.
12. Note the reading of the position of the microscope on the vertical scale.
13. Now move the microscope horizontally and bring it in front of the second capillary tube.
14. Lower the microscope and repeat steps 11 and 12.
15. Repeat steps 11 and 12 for third capillary tube.
16. Lower the stand so that pointer tip becomes visible.
17. Move the microscope horizontally and bring it in front of the pointer.
18. Lower the microscope and make the horizontal cross wire touch the tip of the pointer. Repeat step 12.
(c) Measurement of the internal diameter of the capillary tube
19. Place the first capillary tube horizontally on the adjustable stand.
20. Focus the microscope on the end dipped in water. A white circle (inner bore) surrounded by a green circular strip
(glass cross section) will be seen.
21. Make horizontal cross-wire touch the inner circle at A. Note microscope reading on vertical scale.
22. Raise the microscope to make the horizontal cross-wire touch the circle at B. Note the reading (the difference
gives the vertical internal diameter AB of the capillary tube).
23. Move the microscope on horizontal scale and make the vertical cross wire touch the inner circle at C. Note
microscope reading on horizontal scale.
24. Move the microscope to the right to make the vertical cross-wire touch the circle at D. Note the reading (the
difference gives the horizontal internal diameter CD of the capillary tube).
25. Repeat steps 19 to 24 for other two capillary tubes.
26. Note temperature of water in dish.
27. Record your observations as given ahead.
28. Take a known volume of distilled water from same sample.
29. Dissolve a small known mass of a detergent in the water to make a dilute solution.
30. Find the rise of the solution in same capillary tube. The rise will be less than that for pure water.
31. Add double mass of detergent in same volume of water to have a solution with double concentration.
32. Find the rise of this concentrated solution in same capillary tube. The rise will be still lesser.
33. Repeat with solution of same detergent having increased concentration. Rise will decrease as concentration
increases.

Observatin
The rise in capillary tube decreases with addition of detergent in pure water. With more addition of detergent, rise
becomes lesser and lesser.

Result
The detergent reduces the surface tension of water.

Precautions

1. Capillary tube and water should be free from grease.

2. Capillary tube should be set vertical.
3. Microscope should be moved in lower direction only to avoid back lash error.
4. Internal diameter of capillary tube should be measured in two mutually perpendicular directions.
5. Temperature of water should be noted.

Sources of error
Water and capillary tube may not be free from grease.
ACTIVITY 3 : To Study the Factors Affecting the Rate of Loss of Heat of a Liquid

Aim
To study the factors affecting the rate of loss of heat of a liquid

Apparatus
Two calorimeters A and B of different areas, two thermometers, two stands, stopwatch, wooden lids, burner and
liquid (water).

Theory
According to Newton’s Law of cooling, rate of cooling (i.e., heat lost per sec) of a body is directly proportional to the
difference of temperature of the body and the surrounding.

(i) Nature of surface.

(ii) Area of surface.
(iii) Nature of material of body.
Then, for same difference of temperature, rate of cooling also depends upon :
(i) Area of the surface of the body.
(ii) Nature of the surface of the body.
(iii) Material of the surface of the body (material effects conductivity through walls of the body). Diagram

Procedure
1.Fill the space between double wall of the enclosure with water and put the enclosure on a laboratory table.
2.Fill the calorimeter two-third with water heated to about 80°C.

3.Suspend the calorimeter inside the enclosure along with a stirrer in it. Cover it with a wooden lid having a hole in its
middle.
4.Suspend from clamp and stand, one thermometer in enclosure water and the other in calorimeter water.
5.Note least count of the thermometers.
6. Set the stop clock/watch at zero and note its least count.
7. Note temperature (T0) of water in enclosure.
8. Start stirring the water in calorimeter to make it cool uniformly.
9. Just when calorimeter water has some convenient temperature reading (say 70°C), note it and start the stop
clock/watch.

10. Continue stirring and note temperature after every one minute. The temperature falls quickly in the beginning.
11. Note enclosure water temperature after every five minutes.
12. When fall of temperature becomes slow note temperature at interval of two minutes for 10 minutes and then at
interval of 5 minutes.
13. Stop when fall of temperature becomes very slow.
14. Record your observations as given ahead.
Case I. Take same volume of same liquid in calorimeters of small and large cross¬section (nature and material of
surface same).
Case II. Take same volume of same liquid in similar calorimeters having black painted and polished outer surface
(area and material of surface same).

Case III. Take same volume of same liquid in similar calorimeters of different materials (area and nature of surface
same).
Observations
Least count of enclosure water thermometer =……………..°C.
Least count of calorimeter water thermometer = …………..°C.
Least count of stop clock/watch = ………….s.
Table for time and temperature

Graph

Comparison of graphs
Case I. Cooling is fast from more surface area.
Cooling is slow from less surface area.
Case II. Cooling is fast from black painted surface and slow from polished surface of the calorimeter.
Case III. Cooling is fast from calorimeter having more conducting material and slow from calorimeter having less
conducting material.

Result
Case I. Rate of cooling depends upon the area of the surface through which heat is lost. More area of surface causes
higher rate of cooling.
Case II. Rate of cooling depends upon the nature of the surface through which heat is lost. Black painted surface
causes higher rate of cooling.
Case III. Rate of cooling depends upon the material of the surface. More conducting surface causes higher rate of
cooling.

Precautions

1. Double-walled enclosure should be used to maintain surrounding at a constant temperature.

2. Stirring should remain continuous for uniform cooling.
3. Same volume of same liquid should be taken in all cases.
4. Graphs of one case should be plotted on same graph paper on same scale.