Stephan Boltzmann

apparatus

instrutech
INSTRUCTION MANUAL

AIM: To determine the Stefan Boltzmann constant for the given material.
INTRODUCTION:
The most commonly used law of thermal radiation is the Stefan Boltzmanns law
which states that thermal radiation ( heat flux) or emissive power of black
surface is directly proportional to the fourth power of absolute temperature of
the surface and given by

q
4 cal
2
= T k
m .
A
hr

The constant of proportionality is called the Stefan Boltzmanns

Constant and has value of

y4

8 cal
4.876 X 10 k
m2
hr

DISCRIPTION :
The apparatus consists of flanged copper hemisphere (B) fixed on a flat nonconducting plate A. The outer surface of (B) is enclosed in a metal water jacket
used to heat B to some suitable constant temperature. The hemispherical shape
B is chosen solely on the grounds that it simplifies the task of drawing the water
between B & C.

Four thermocouples are attached to various points on the

surface on measure its mean temperature to bared by a temperature indicator.

The disc D which is mounted in PVC plate fitted in a hole drilled in the center of
base plate A. Thermocouple is used to measure the temperature of disc D.
When the disc is inserted the temperature T6, the response of temperature
change of disc time is used to calculate the Stefan Boltzmann constant.
SPECIFICATION:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.

Hemisphere enclosure dia

Water jacket diameter
Water jacket height
Base plate PVC SIZE
Test disc dia
Mass of test disc

= 200 mm.
= 300 mm.
= 125 mm.
= 350 mm.
= 25 mm.
= 20 gms. (----- kg

TABULAR COLUMN
Temp. Readings
T T2 T3 T4

T5

0
5

Time in sec for which T6 is noted.

10 15 2
2
3
35 4
4
0

5
0

The Stefans Boltzmans constant was found to be . K cal/hr-m 2 ok4.

PROCEDURE:
1.
2.
3.
4.

Fill the water in the upper tank.

Switch on the immersion heater and heat it up to 90 oC.
Remove the disc D before pouring the water into the lower tank.
Switch off the heater and open the valve and allow the water into the

second tank.
5. Allow it for steady state.
6. Note down the thermocouple readings T1, T2, T3 and T4, T5.
7. Insert the disc and immediately note down the temperature T6 at every
five seconds interval from zero seconds.
8. Draw the graph of temperature Vs time and calculate dT/dt.
CALCULATIONS:

dt
dT /

2
4
hrm K
Kcal /
m s
=
2

A d =surface area of the disc=

T s=Surface temperature=

d
m2
4

T 1+T 2+T 3+T 4+T 5

+273 K
5

T 6=Disc temperature=T 6 +273 K

NOTE:

m= mass of disc = 6.8 X 10-3 Kg

s = specific heat of the disc = o.385 X 10 3


Also

Q = Md X Cpd

Q= A d ( T 48T 46 )
w
= 2 K4 .
m

RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONS:

Graphs:
Disc tempreture v/s time.

dT
)
dt