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Experiment 2: entropy, Purpose, Theory – PASCO ET-8499 Energy Transfer Calorimeter User Manual

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Model No. ET-8499

Experiment 2: Entropy

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Experiment 2: Entropy

Purpose

This lab investigates the concept of entropy as applied to calorimetry. The relationship between
entropy and spontaneous processes is investigated.

Theory

In a closed system, heat energy flows spontaneously from the hot objects to the cooler objects and
the total change in energy for the system is zero. The heat added to one part of the system equals
the heat lost by the other parts. However, the total change in entropy of the system is not zero. For
any real, spontaneous process, the total change in entropy of the entire system must be greater
than zero.

The change in entropy (

S) of an object is defined in terms of the energy transferred (dQ) and the

temperature of the object (T).

For a calorimetry experiment, dQ=mcdT , where

m = mass

c = specific heat

Thus, equation (1) can be reduced to

Equipment Required

Calorimeter

(2) Thermometer or Temperature sensor (0.1° resolution)

Water (hot and cold)

Scale

S

S

f

S

i

dQ

T

------- (1)

i

f

=

=

S

mc

dT

T

------ (2)

i

f

=