What is the change in temperature of the water in …

Physics Questions

What is the change in temperature for the water in the calorimeter after the aluminum wire was added?

Short Answer

The experiment measured the temperature changes in water when different metals (aluminum, steel, and lead) were added. Aluminum caused a decrease of 2.6°C, steel caused a drop of 1.5°C, and lead resulted in a 0.8°C decrease, indicating varying heat absorption abilities of the metals, with aluminum being the most effective.

Step-by-Step Solution

Step 1: Measure Temperature Change for Aluminum Wire

To determine the impact of aluminum on the water temperature in the calorimeter, observe the temperature change after adding the aluminum wire. The recorded change is a decrease of 2.6°C, indicating that the aluminum wire absorbed heat from the water, thus cooling it.

Step 2: Measure Temperature Change for Steel Wire

Next, assess the effect of adding steel wire to the system. The observed change in temperature of the water after the addition of steel wire is a drop of 1.5°C. This reveals that the steel wire also took heat from the water, albeit to a lesser extent than the aluminum wire.

Step 3: Measure Temperature Change for Lead Pellets

Finally, evaluate the temperature change when lead pellets are introduced into the calorimeter. The temperature decreases by 0.8°C, showing that lead pellets have the least cooling effect on the water compared to aluminum and steel. This indicates that lead absorbs less heat than the other metals.

Related Concepts

Temperature Change

The difference in temperature recorded before and after a substance is introduced into a system, indicating heat transfer processes.

Heat Absorption

The process by which a material takes in thermal energy from its surroundings, leading to a change in temperature.

Calorimeter

An insulated device used to measure the heat transfer during a chemical reaction or physical change, allowing for the assessment of temperature changes in a controlled environment.

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