AMERICAN INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY–BANGLADESH (AIUB)

FACULTY OF SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

DEPARTMENT OF PHYSICS
PHYSICS LAB 2
Fall 2021-2022
Section: H, Group: 03

LAB REPORT ON
To determine the specific heat of a liquid by the method of cooling

Supervised By
Md. Masud Parvez

Submitted By
Name ID Contribution
1. Kangkhita Zaman Urbee 20-43656-2 I have done the Experimental Data and Calculation of
this lab report.
2. Limia Sadina Sathi 20-43851-2 I have written the Apparatus and Discussion part of
the lab report.
3. Md. Shoaib Khan Chowdhury 20-43731-2 I have done the Graph of this experiment.

4. Maliha Tasnuva 20-43852-2 I have completed Result and References of the lab
report.
5. Nuzhat Tanzina Prova 20-43869-2 I have written the Procedure and Theoretical Part of
this experiment.

Date of Submission: October 06, 2021

Lab Report Department of Physics Page 1 of 9

 TABLE OF CONTENTS

TOPICS Page no.

I. Title Page 1
II. Table of Content 2
1. Theory 3-4
2. Apparatus 4
3. Procedure 5
4. Experimental Data 6-7
5. Analysis and Calculation 7-8
6. Result 8
7. Discussion 8
8. References 9

Lab Report Department of Physics Page 2 of 9

1. Theory
The amount of heat required to raise the temperature of a material's unit mass by 1°C is referred to as the
material's specific heat. It is symbolized by the letter S. The rate of change of cooling of an object in the
same environment is exactly proportional to the temperature differential between the object and the
surrounding. This method is called the theory of cooling. The temperature difference between the object
and its surroundings must be minimal. When a beverage is heated to a higher temperature and then
placed in the refrigerator to cool, the rate of heat loss by a temperature of the liquid is then exactly
proportional to the temperature difference in the surrounding.

Assume that the calorimeter's combined mass, including the stirrer = m kg.

Mass of the experimental liquid in the calorimeter = M1 kg

Specific heat of the liquid = S1 J kg-1 K-1

Time taken to cool the liquid from temperature- θ10 to θ20 = t1 sec

Mass of water having volume equal to that of the liquid = M2 kg

Specific heat of water = S2 J kg-1 K-1

Lab Report Department of Physics Page 3 of 9

Time taken to cool water from temperatures, θ10 to θ20 = t2 sec

(𝑴𝟏 𝑺𝟏 +𝒎𝑺)(𝜽𝟏 −𝜽𝟐 )

So, rate of cooling of the liquid = Js-1 -------(1)
𝒕𝟏

(𝑴𝟐 𝑺𝟐 +𝒎𝑺)(𝜽𝟏 −𝜽𝟐 )

and rate of cooling of water = 𝒕𝟐
Js-1 -------(2)

According to Newton’s law of cooling, rate of cooling in these two cases is equal.

(𝑀1 𝑆1 +𝑚𝑆)(𝜃1 −𝜃2 ) (𝑀2 𝑆2 +𝑚𝑆)(𝜃1 −𝜃2 )

So, Js-1 = Js-1
𝑡1 𝑡2

(𝑀1 𝑆1 +𝑚𝑆)(𝜃1 −𝜃2 ) (𝑀2 𝑆2 +𝑚𝑆)(𝜃1 −𝜃2 )

Or, Js-1 = Js-1
𝑡1 𝑡2

𝑴𝟐 𝑺𝟐 𝒕𝟏 +𝒎𝑺(𝒕𝟏 −𝒕𝟐)
So, 𝑺𝟏 = ----------(3)
𝑴𝟏 𝒕 𝟐

2. Apparatus
i. A calorimeter with a stirrer
ii. A chamber having two walls
iii. A sensitive thermometer
iv. Balance
v. Burner
vi. Stop-watch

Lab Report Department of Physics Page 4 of 9

3. Procedure

i. The weight of a clean and dry calorimeter was taken with its stirrer by us.

ii. Then the water was heated in another container between temperature of 70 ᴼC to 75 ᴼC by us
and the water was poured in the calorimeter up to a fixed mark. This calorimeter was placed in a
two-walled chamber by us.

iii. Water was stirred slowly and slowly by us with a stirrer and temperature of water was recorded
in 1 °C interval. The water temperature was decreased gradually as the room temperature was
more than the temperature of the water. In this way 20 to 25 readings of temperature were
recorded by us and then weight of the calorimeter was taken along with water. The weight of
water was found out by the difference of subtraction of these two readings.

iv. Then the water was thrown away from the calorimeter by us and it was cleaned and dried. After
that experimental heated liquid from 70 ᴼC to 75 ᴼC was poured in the calorimeter up to the
previous mark by us. The calorimeter along with the liquid was placed inside chamber by us.

v. Then the liquid was stirred slowly by us and following procedure (3) was recorded in each
degree interval of temperature. The 20-25 reading was taken in this way. The calorimeter with
liquid was taken afterwards by us. The weight of the liquid was found out by the difference of
weights of 3rd and the 1st one.

Lab Report Department of Physics Page 5 of 9

4. Experimental Data
Table: Time-Temperature record.

No. of Temperature °C
Time (Min.)
Observations
Water Liquid
1 0 65 68
2 1 63 65
3 2 62 64
4 3 61 63
5 4 60 61
6 5 59 60
7 6 58 59
8 7 57 58
9 8 56 57
10 9 55.5 56
11 10 55 55
12 12 54 53.5
13 14 52 52
14 16 51 50
15 18 50 49
16 20 49 47.5
17 22 48 46.5
18 24 47 45.5
19 26 46.5 44.5
20 28 45.5 44
21 30 45 43
22 33 43.5 41.5
23 36 42.542 40.5
24 39 41 39.5
25 42 40.5 38
26 45 40 37

Lab Report Department of Physics Page 6 of 9

 Temperature vs Time
70

65

60

55
Temperature (oC)

50

45

40 Water
t1=12 min
Liquid
35
t2=15 min

30
0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50
Time (min)

5. Analysis and Calculation

Observation and Manipulation:

Mass of the calorimeter + Mass of stirrer, m = 67.4 gm

Sp. Heat of the material of the calorimeter, s = 0.0909 cal/gm-°C

Mass of the calorimeter + Mass of stirrer + Mass of water, m2 = 152.2 gm

Mass of the water, M2 = m2 - m

= (152.2 – 67.4) gm

= 84.8 gm

Lab Report Department of Physics Page 7 of 9

 Mass of the calorimeter + stirrer + liquid, m1 = 150.5 gm

Mass of the liquid, M1 = m1 – m

= (150.5 – 67.4) gm

= 83.1 gm

Calculation:
𝑴𝟐 𝑺𝟐 𝒕𝟏 +𝒎𝑺(𝒕𝟏 −𝒕𝟐)
𝑺𝟏 =
𝑴𝟏 𝒕𝟐

{84.8×1×(12×60)}+67.4×0.0909×{(12×60)−(15×60)}
= cal/gm-oC
83.1×(15×60)

61056+(−1102.799)
= cal/gm-oC
74790

= 0.80 cal/gm-oC

6. Result
Specific heat of given liquid = 0.80 cal/gm-°C

7. Discussion
i. The calorimeter was kept clean and dry for taking the weight, readings of temperature and

time accurately.

ii. Volumes of water and liquid were taken equally to avoid errors in the result.

iii. Bottom of the calorimeter was black. As a result, heat radiation capacity was increased.

iv. No volatile liquid was taken.

Lab Report Department of Physics Page 8 of 9

8. References

i. Fundamentals of Physics: Resnick & Halliday

ii. Practical Physics: Dr. Giasuddin Ahmad & Md. Shahabuddin, M. Sc. M. A.

iii. Lab Manual

iv. Lab Video

v. Lab Class

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