Back to category: Science

Limited version - please login or register to view the entire paper.

Electrical equivalent of heat

1.1 Introduction
This experiment will be based on the principles of conservation of energy. I will strive for finding the electrical equivalent of heat.

Electric power delivered by a source is P = V * I (I= current, V = voltage)). As power is defined as the rate at which the source does work W, then: P = W/ t. From this it is easy to se that W = V* I * t (t = time during which the current flows through the object).

Absorption of heat is associated with the increase of temperature of a body. The absorbed heat energy (Q) is proportional to the increase of temperature ( ΔT): Q=m*c*ΔT (m=mass of the body, c = specific heat capacity of the body).

Since I will base my experiment on conservation of energy W should equal Q, ie: VIt=mcΔT. In my experiment two bodies (water and a calorimeter) will absorb the heat supplied and therefore the formula that I will use is: VIt = mwcwΔTw + mcccΔTc.. What I will search for is the conversion factor of heat and electric...

Posted by: Carlos Hernandez

Limited version - please login or register to view the entire paper.