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The idea for this experiment was born when I was trying to make lemonade after playing
a football match. After playing sports, consumption of a cold drink is needed to decrease
body temperature. However, when kept in a room, the drink eventually cools down due
to absorption of heat energy in the environment. To make lemonade, I began to mix the
salt with water and wondered if the amount of salt in the water would make it warmer
than a normal of glass of water if left at room temperature. Thus, it was decided to
determine the optimum amount of salt, if any, needed to ensure that the drink would stay
at the minimum temperature for a given time period.
I linked this idea of mine to the concept of specific heat capacity which we had learnt in
our Physics HL class under the topic Heat. Since specific heat capacity conveyed how
much heat energy a substance could absorb for a unit mass, I realized that a substance
with higher specific heat capacity would also cool down slower. Thus, I decided to
explore how the specific heat capacity of my lemonade changed with different
percentages of salt in it, which eventually became the basis for my research question.
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Physics IA: Concentration of Salt
Background Theory
Heat is energy that is transferred from one body to another as a result of a difference in
temperature. The specific heat capacity of a body is said to be the energy required to
increase the temperature of a unit mass of the body by one kelvin. The literature value of
−1 −1
the specific heat capacity of water is known to be 4200JKg
! K . The literature value
of specific heat capacity of salt is 864 !JKg−1K −1 .
In the experiment, the concentration of salt in water is increased and the specific heat
capacity of water is calculated for each of the different concentrations. The Principle of
Method of Mixtures.
! = mc ∆ t
Q
where
Q
! = VIt
Where
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Physics IA: Concentration of Salt
t represents the time for which the heat energy was supplied in seconds
Research Question
How does the concentration of salt in water affect the specific heat capacity of the water?
Hypothesis
The specific heat capacity of water decreases proportionally with an increase in
concentration of salt.
Variables
Apparatus
- Calorimeter
- Water
- Graduated Cylinder
- Salt
- Voltmeter
- Ammeter
- Connecting wires
- Cotton rope
- Digital thermometer
- Teaspoon
- Rubber glove
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Physics IA: Concentration of Salt
- Battery Eliminator
Safety Risks
- Wear Rubber Gloves when using the connecting wires to ensure no electric shock
occurs.
Procedure
1. Measure a volume of 100 ml of water using the graduated cylinder
2. Pour the water measured into the copper vessel of the calorimeter
3. Record the initial temperature of the water using the digital thermometer
4. Connect the voltmeter and ammeter to the battery eliminator and switch on the
power generator.
5. Switch on the power source for a duration of 10 minutes while ensuring that the
voltage is 2 Volts and the current is 2 Amperes.
6. At the end of 10 minutes, record the final temperature of the water using the digital
thermometer.
Data Analysis
! = VIt
Q
After substituting the values of V= 2 ± 0.2 V, I=2 ± 0.2 A and t=600 ± 0.01 s, the Heat energy
supplied is calculated to be
! = 2*2*600
Q
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Physics IA: Concentration of Salt
Q
! = 2400 J
The uncertainty in the value of Q was calculated in the following manner: (CHANGE THIS
∆Q = ± (0.20+0.20+0.01)
∆Q = ± 0.41
! = 2400 ± 0.41 J
Therefore, Q
The specific heat capacity of water was calculated using the formula
Q
! = mc ∆ t
Q
c=!
m*Δt
Therefore, after substituting the values we arrive at
2400
c=!
0.1*Δt
Δc ΔQ Δm Δt
! = + +
c Q m t
Δc
= 0.00017 + 0.0001 + 0.00001666666
c
Δc = c* 0.00029
For each case, the difference in temperature (!Δt) was substituted to calculate the specific
heat capacity.
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Physics IA: Concentration of Salt
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Physics IA: Concentration of Salt
Conclusion
The results of the experiment indicate that as the concentration of salt in water increases,
the specific heat capacity of the water decreases. Water without any salt is found to have
higher specific heat capacity than water with salt. Therefore, water without any salt cools
down slower and is optimum to ensure that the drink would stay at the minimum
temperature in a given time period.
Limitations
• The copper vessel of the calorimeter could have been slightly dirty, and contained
dust and other particles which would have affected the temperature change (!Δt)
calculated, and hence the value of specific heat capacity of water that was
calculated.
• Parallax error could have occurred while measuring the volume of water using the
graduated cylinder.
• Human reaction time would have affected the time at which the battery eliminator
was switched off, and therefore affected the value of the temperature change (!Δt).
• The salt may not have fully dissolved into the water and thus affected the value of
specific heat capacity of water.
• Some heat may have been lost to environment from the calorimeter, which would
affect the values of temperature change and specific heat capacity of water.
Improvements
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Physics IA: Concentration of Salt
• The copper vessel of the calorimeter could be cleaned using alcohol swabs to ensure that
there are no other particles remaining in it.
• The measurement marking of the graduated cylinder should be observed perpendicularly
when measuring the level of water. The volume should be measured by observing the
lower meniscus of the graduated cylinder.
• An arduino module could be used along with motorised switch to ensure that the battery
eliminator switches off automatically at the given time period.
• The temperature of the water could be increased first to increase solubility of salt in
water, before letting the water settle to the initial temperature.
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Physics IA: Concentration of Salt
References
https://pubs.acs.org/doi/abs/10.1021/jp0003914
http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/thermo/spht.html
https://www-thphys.physics.ox.ac.uk/people/SteveSimon/condmat2012/LectureNotes2012.pdf
https://www.engineeringtoolbox.com/sodium-chloride-water-d_1187.html
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1876610217310342
https://www.ck12.org/book/CK-12-Chemistry-Second-Edition/r18/section/17.4/
http://www.iun.edu/~cpanhd/C101webnotes/matter-and-energy/specificheat.html
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