MENG 4210 Energy Science Laboratory
Department of Mechanical Engineering
EQUILIBRIUM TEMPERATURE DETERMINATION
Richard Garrison
Georgia Southern University
Statesboro, Georgia, USA
ABSTRACT
The experiment conducted was an endeavor to validate and
observe the First Law of Thermodynamics (an application of
the Conservation of Energy) in an isolated system primarily
through studying the equilibrium temperature variable. The
experiment required that fluid of known mass and temperature
become mixed with the same fluid of a different mass and
temperature. Using mathematical manipulation of the First Law
it was possible to calculate a theoretical equilibrium
temperature to and compare it to an actual equilibrium
temperature gathered experimentally. A Styrofoam cup and lid
served as the isolated system since it is made from an insulating
material. Cold water of a varying mass but held at constant
temperature (°C) was added to hot water. The hot water was to
serve as the constant, so it was maintained at constant mass and
temperature, 75g and 60°C respectively by heating the water on
a hot plate. After mixing the water samples an equilibrium
temperature could be found. The experimental equilibrium
temperatures are then compared against theoretical (calculated)
values. This process was conducted for three trials of each
configuration required. The average experimental equilibrium
temperature was 34 °C, 39.67 °C, and 45.34 °C for each
configuration. The average theoretical equilibrium temperature
was 37.23 °C, 43.17 °C, and 49.74 °Cf or each configuration.
This resulted in an average percent error of 8.67%, 8.13%, and
8.86% over the three configurations of the experiment. It was
found that sources of error included the effectiveness of the
insulating material, human error in the execution of the
experiment, and possible instrument calibration deficiencies.
NOMENCLATURE
Q Heat transfer
W Work
c Specific heat, J/kg*°C
ΔU Internal energy
cp Specific heat at constant pressure, J/kg*°C
cv Specific heat at constant volume, J/kg*°C
mc Mass of cold water, kg
June 29, 2020, Statesboro, Georgia, USA
Technical Report I
mh Mass of hot water, kg
Tc Temperature of initial cold water, °C
Teq Equilibrium temperature, °C
Th Temperature of initial hot water, °C
INTRODUCTION
A system is defined as a quantity of matter or a region in
space chosen for study, moreover a closed system consists of a
fixed amount of mass and no mass may cross its boundary. 1
Energy is allowed to transfer across the boundary unless it is an
isolated system. A mathematical way of demonstrating this
principle is by relating the internal energy of a system (U) and
the work done onto or by it (W) to the total heat transfer (Q).
Q−W =∆U (1)
Essentially the First Law of Thermodynamics is an applied
form of the Conservation of Energy Law in which energy
cannot be created or destroyed, only transferred. One variable
in understanding the First Law is to understand the concept of
specific heat. It is the value measured to raise a unit mass of a
substance by one degree. 1 The value also depends on if the
system is being held at constant temperature of constant
pressure.
c p=c v =c (2)
To understand how to use Equation 1 practically, one must
first expand the equations which define its variables. Applying
the first law to an isolated system yields the following equation.
0=[ m h c ( T eq −T h , i ) ]h + [ m c + c ( T eq −T c, i ) ]c (3)
From there a working equation can be generated which
would allow an individual to perform an experiment to measure
the behavior of heat and energy in an isolated system primarily
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by monitoring the change in temperature of a fluid of a known
mass added to another.

mc c p T c + mh c p T h
T eq=
mc c p + mh c p
(4)

It should be noted that since the specific heat is to be held at

constant pressure and it is present in the numerator and
denominator, it is possible to cancel it out and obtain a final
working equation. Figure 2. Hot Plate Used for Heating Water

mc T c +mh T h The table below illustrates the configurations needed to be

T eq= analyzed in the experiment by trial number.
mc +mh
(5) Table 1. Hot and Cold Fluid Configurations
Cold Fluid Hot Fluid
EXPERIMENTAL METHODS Configuration m (g) T (°C) m (g) T (°C)
It is possible verify the validity of the First Law of 1 75 20 75 60
Thermodynamics by measuring the internal flow of energy 2 50 20 75 60
within an isolated system. In this case an insulated Styrofoam 3 25 20 75 60
cup is used to simulate an isolated system. If two sources of
water of a known mass and temperature was to be combined Once the variables are set the different water samples are
within the isolated system, then using Equation 5 one would be mixed together in the Styrofoam cup, a lid with a hole placed
able to accurately determine the equilibrium temperature of the on top, and the thermocouple placed inside to monitor the
final water mixture. temperature change as illustrated in the following figure.
The experiment requires that the initial temperature and be
set to a known, consistent value and in this case 20°C. This is
accomplished by using an ice cube to lower the temperature of
the water and monitoring the temperature changes with a
thermocouple. Since the First Law of Thermodynamics is an
application of the Conservation of Energy Law, it is necessary
to vary the mass of the cold water samples, while leaving the
hot water samples at a consistent mass and temperature to serve
as a control. Doing so adds validity and accuracy to the
experiment’s results.
A beaker is to be placed on a scale, zeroed out, and water of
a known mass is poured into the beaker as illustrated in Figure Figure 3. Insertion of Thermocouple
1.
Finally, after the water mixture reaches a stable
temperature, the value is recorded as an experimental
equilibrium temperature. This provides values to be compared
and analyzed for consistency.

DATA
After conducting the experiment, several data points were
obtained. It should be reiterated that three trials were conducted
under the three different configurations as noted in Table 1.
Figure 1. Scale and Thermocouple Equipment Therefore, the data points collected can be arranged into three
separate tables (including the experimental equilibrium
Next, room temperature water is to be added to another temperature) in order to produce reliable results later. The
beaker, weighed, and be heated up to a known temperature tables include the following.
value using a hot plate shown below. For the requirements of
this experiment it shall be 60°C Table 2. 75g Liquid H2O at 60oC Combined With 75g Liquid
H2O at 20oC
o
Trial mc(g) Tc( C) mh(g) Th(oC) Teg(oC)
1 75 14 75.7 60 33
2 75.4 14 75.8 61 35

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 3 75.1 14 75.2 60 34 mass of the fluids was to remain controlled and the
temperatures were manipulated to a known value. There is a
Table 3. 75g Liquid H2O at 60oC Combined With 50g Liquid transfer of energy between the cooler water and the warmer
H2O at 20oC water resulting in an exchange of work done on the system.
Trial mc(g) o
Tc( C) mh(g) Th(oC) Teg(oC) Using the First Law principle (described using the Equations
1 49.6 14 74.4 63 40 indicated in the introduction), one is able to accurately predict
2 49.9 17 74.4 60 39 the equilibrium temperature of the fluid when one or more of
3 50.3 17 75.4 61 40 the variables is changed within the isolated system.
One way to determine the accuracy of the results of an
Table 4. 75g Liquid H2O at 60oC Combined With 25g Liquid experiment is the compare the measured values of the
H2O at 20oC experiment to the theoretical results calculated. This is best
Trial mc(g) o
Tc( C) mh(g) Th(oC) Teg(oC) accomplished by using the percent error calculation. An
1 25.4 18 75.4 62 46 example using the data and results of Trial 1 of the three
different configurations is shown below.
2 25 18 75.7 59 44
3 25 18 75 60 46
Experimental Value−Theoretical Value
RESULTS
Once the data points were successfully compiled and
% Error= [ Theoretical Value
x 100 % ]
compartmentalized it was then possible to analyze the outcome V A −V E
of the experiment. However, in order to fully understand the
relationship between the data collected and the experimental
equilibrium temperature, one must obtain the calculated
% Error=
[ VE ]
x 100 %

equilibrium temperature. Such a value will also serve as the 33 ° C−37.11° C

theoretical value as well. Calculating the theoretical
equilibrium temperature involves using the aforementioned
% Error= [ 37.11° C ]
x 100 %=11.07 %

Equation 5 introduced in the Introduction section. An example A table of the resulting percent error is displayed below. It
of such a calculation is rendered below by using the data values should be noted that once again the variables of the experiment
from Trial 1 of Table 2. were reduced to Configuration numbers.
mc T c +mh T h ( 75 g ) ( 14 ° C ) +(75.7 g)(60 ° C)
T eq= = =37.11 ° C Table 6. Compiled Percent Error Results in %
mc +mh (75 g+75.7 g) Trial Configuration Configuration Configuration
1 2 3
By conduction Equation 5 on all three trials on each of the 1 11.07 7.83 9.64
three separate configurations the following tables of the 2 6.81 8.75 9.87
theoretical equilibrium temperatures can be compiled as 3 8.15 7.81 7.07
displayed below. It should be noted that in order to avoid the
repetition of the previous data points in previous section and While the previous table indicates that the experimental
the production of multiple graphs, the different experimental results for equilibrium temperature is not exactly the same as
values were reduced to “Configuration” numbers in the the theoretical equilibrium temperature, this does not make the
following table. First Law of Thermodynamics invalid. It can be understood that
there are several reasons for the difference in percent error in
Table 5. Compiled Experimental Equilibrium Temperatures in this experiment.
°C Perhaps the most fundamental error in this experiment is
Trial Configuration Configuration Configuration that the First Law primarily states in this configuration that
1 2 3 system being studied must be completed isolated to its outside
1 37.11 43.40 50.91 environment. The system in quest was a Styrofoam cup which
2 37.56 42.74 48.82 serves as a good insulator, but not a perfect one. Measurable
3 37.02 43.39 49.5 amount of heat was able to escape the systems due to
convection of the surrounding air around it. This results in the
DISCUSSION equilibrium temperature not being completely accurate as there
Considering the results of the experiments, several was in fact an ambient temperature of the surround air that was
conclusions can be made about the nature and the application of not taken into consideration.
the First Law of Thermodynamics. The principle explored is Another source of error is one that is a result of human error
that since when system is isolated (through the use of using as well. While it was stated in the Experimental Methods
insolation as means of reducing the effect of ambient section of this report what the intended conditions and values of
temperature to a non-factor), the energy and work undergone by the variables were supposed to be, human error ensures that the
a system is equal to that of the initial conditions that originally exact mass of the water for each trial was not exact. The
described the system. When conducting the experiment, the temperature of the heated water also played a considerable role

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in the overall error as it is difficult to heat the water to the exact
temperature desired. Consideration must be also given to the
fact that the mixing of the hot and cold water also is a source of
error; if the temperature of the combined water mixture is taken
too soon or too late, equilibrium temperature values may
become flawed.
Finally, error also occurs due to several of the devices and
instruments used in the experiment may present calibration
issues, damage, or overall inaccuracies in its measurements.
CONCLUSION
Although the experimental equilibrium temperatures
obtained did posses an amount of error, it was not
unreasonable. More accurate results could have been obtained
if a better insulating material had been used to simulate the
isolated system. Calibration checks could also have been
conducted and the actual true readings could produce a value
that could reduce calculated error from the experiment’s results.
When addressing human error in the experiment it is possible to
reduce it as a factor by improving measuring techniques,
timing, and precision. Conducting the experiment multiple
times would indicate which values are trouble to obtain and
point out trends in the execution of the experiment.
Based on the results of the experiment it can be said that
experiment provides proof and validity to the Conservation of
Energy Law, therefore doing the same for the First Law of
Thermodynamics.
REFERENCES
[1] Experiment 1. First Law Analysis – Determining
Equilibrium Temperature of a Mixture. Georgia Southern
University. 2020.
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