GOALS

Physics

• Observe that mechanical energy can be transformed to heat energy.
• Determine the work being done on, or mechanical energy input to a thermal system.
• Determine the change in heat energy of the system.
• Relate the mechanical energy to the heat energy.

Technique

• Learn how to measure the total work being done by a rotating system, against friction.
• The measurement of basic thermodynamic quantities.

Errors

• Methods of accounting for energy and its transfer.

Questions (Work out in lab book before coming to lab.)

1. If you could improve the insulation around the center brass cone would you expect to improve your measurement of J?
2. If you have some small lumps of unmelted ice in the cold water in the cone at the start of the experiment, how will it affect your results?
3. A conventional electric fan heats the air slightly. Why? Why does it make you feel cooler?

References

• Halliday and Resnick, "Fundamentals of Physics", Ch. 19