Computer

Mixing Warm and Cold Water

H = tmCp

py

Heat can be defined as energy transferred between matter because of differences in temperature.
The ability of matter to transfer heat depends on its mass and temperature. A calorimeter is an
instrument used to measure changes in heat energy. You can make a simple calorimeter using a
Styrofoam cup to contain water, a beaker for more insulation and support, and a Temperature
Probe to measure temperatures as shown in Figure 1. The joule (J) is the SI unit for heat energy.
An equation that can be used to calculate change in heat energy is

OBJECTIVES
In this experiment, you will

Construct and use a simple calorimeter.

Use a computer to measure temperature.
Mix cold and warm water.
Determine heat lost by cooling water.
Determine heat gained by warming water.
Compare heat lost by cooling water and heat gained by warming water.

ua
tio

co

where H = heat absorbed or released (in J), t = change in temperature (in C), m = mass (in g),
and Cp = specific heat capacity (4.18 J/gC for water).

MATERIALS

Styrofoam cup
250 mL beaker
cold water
warm water

Ev

al

computer
Vernier computer interface
Logger Pro
2 Vernier Temperature Probes
50 mL graduated cylinder

Figure 1

Physical Science with Vernier

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Computer 7

PROCEDURE
1. Obtain and wear goggles.
2. Connect the probes to the computer interface. Prepare the computer for data collection by
opening the file 07 Mixing Warm Cold from the Physical Science w Vernier folder.
3. Place a Styrofoam cup into a 250 mL beaker as shown in Figure 1. Use a 50 mL graduated
cylinder to get 50.0 mL (50.0 g) of cold water from the container supplied by the teacher. Be
careful not to take any ice pieces. Pour the cold water into the Styrofoam cup and insert
Probe 1.
4. Use a 50 mL graduated cylinder to get 50.0 mL (50.0 g) of warm water from the container
supplied by the teacher. Place Probe 2 into the warm water in the 50 mL graduated cylinder.
After the probes have been in the cold and warm water for at least 45 seconds, you are ready
to begin data collection.
5. Measuring temperatures with the computer.
to begin data collection.
a. Click
b. After the first temperature readings have been made by the computer, transfer the warm
water and its probe to the Styrofoam cup.
c. Stir to mix the warm water with the cold water.
d. Collect data until both temperatures stop changing (level off), then click
.
6. Click the Statistics button,

. Record the minimum and maximum temperatures.

DATA

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Cold Water

Warm Water

Probe 1

Probe 2

MIN ____________ C

MIN ___________ C

MAX ___________ C

MAX __________ C

Physical Science with Vernier

Mixing Warm and Cold Water

PROCESSING THE DATA

1. Calculate the temperature change, t, for the warming of cold water and the cooling of warm
water by subtracting the minimum temperature from the maximum temperature for each
process (t = tmax tmin).

2. Calculate the heat gained by the cold water (in J). Use the equation
H = tmCp
where H = heat absorbed (in J), t = change in temperature (in C), m = mass (50.0 g in this
experiment), and Cp = specific heat capacity (4.18 J/gC for water).

3. Calculate the heat lost by the warm water (in J).

4. Calculate the percent difference using the formula

% difference =

heat lost heat gained 100

heat loss

5. What are some factors that might have caused the difference determined in Step 4?

EXTENSIONS
1. Print a graph of your results. Attach the graph to your report.
2. Build and test a better calorimeter that might reduce heat lost in this experiment.

Physical Science with Vernier

7-3

Vernier Lab Safety Instructions Disclaimer

THIS IS AN EVALUATION COPY OF THE VERNIER STUDENT LAB.

This copy does not include:

z

Safety information

Essential instructor background information

Directions for preparing solutions

Important tips for successfully doing these labs

The complete Physical Science with Vernier lab manual includes 40 labs and essential
teacher information. The full lab book is available for purchase at:
http://www.vernier.com/cmat/psv.html

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