PASCO ET-8499 Energy Transfer Calorimeter - Manual (Page 9)

Model No. ET-8499 Experiment 1: Heat of Fusion of Ice
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Experiment 1: Heat of Fusion of Ice
Purpose
This lab investigates the concept of conservation of energy as applied to calorimetry: In a closed
system, the sum of all materials that gain (absorb) energy must equal the sum of all materials that
lose energy. The relationship between temperature and heat is discussed, including the topics of
specific heat and latent heat of transformation.
Theory
Heat added to (or removed from) a solid or a liquid can change the material's internal thermal
energy and thus change its temperature. The relationship between the heat flow and the resulting
change in temperature is given by
Q = mc
∆
T
Q = Heat
m = mass
c = specific heat
∆
T = change in Temperature
In addition, when a material is at a boundary state between phases, heat flow can cause a change
in phase. For example, in this experiment heat added to ice at 0°C causes a change in phase from
solid to liquid. The relationship between the heat flow and the resulting change in phase is given
by
Q = mL
f
Q = Heat
m = mass
L
f
= (Latent) Heat of Fusion
Equipment Required
Calorimeter
Thermometer or Temperature sensor
(0.1 Degree resolution)
Ice cubes (solid, not crushed)
Scale