Zeroth Law of Thermodynamics, thermal equilibrium AND A THERMOMETER

CALIRACIÓN

Cristian A. González-Puente, Jane E. Herrera-Mendoza, Juan D. Pallares-Mestra &

Yeimer Gómez-Tuberquia.

Thermodynamics; Agroindustrial Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Department

of Chemistry, University of Antioquia, Headquarters ecological and agro-
environmental studies, Tulenapa, Carepa, Antioquia-Colombia,
cristian.gonzalezp@udea.edu.co; I estacy.herrera@udea.edu.co;I
juan.pallares@udea.edu.co; yeimer.gomez@udea.edu.co

SUMMARY
The objectives of the laboratory: Understanding the thermodynamic basis of the temperature
measurement by practice, determine a specific substance taking into account its temperature,
and to obtain temperature measurements. For this sample temperatures are taken by the
mercury bulb thermometer and thermocouple. It was obtained as a result that the substance
is assigned acetone, and concludes that thermocouple is a very efficient when measuring the
temperature sensors instrument since yields fast and accurate results of the substance to be
measured.
KEYWORDS:thermal equilibrium thermodynamics law zero, temperature, Thermocouple
Thermometer.

known thermometers used. Different

INTRODUCTION
Thermal equilibrium occurs when two
systems, one at a higher temperature than
the other, are contacted; in the system of
higher temperature, as time goes on, the
temperature decreases and, conversely, the
system was initially low temperature, this
increases, so that the temperature
difference decreases.
The zeroth law of thermodynamics states
that if an "A" system is in thermal
equilibrium with a "B" system and if in
turn the system "B" is in equilibrium with
a "C" system necessarily three systems are
in thermal equilibrium with each other.
To know the temperature of a
thermodynamic system instruments
properties of the substances that are
associated with thermodynamic property
called "temperature", such as: length,
volume, electrical resistivity, etc., this
means that a substance modifying its
temperature, will also modify the
properties mentioned; under this principle
it is as thermometers operate. A
thermocouple is a temperature transducer,
ie a device that translates a physical
quantity into an electrical signal. It
consists of two wires of different metals,
which together conveniently generated
between their free ends a difference
proportional to the temperature difference
between them potential.
This article presents the analysis to
determine an unknown specific substance,
by measuring its temperature with two 5- Add enough unknown substance in the
instruments. distillation flask, then put to heat said
substance given, until it reaches its boiling
MATERIALS AND PROCEDURE point and finally measuring the
Materials: temperature and voltage boiling substance.

● Thermometer RESULTS AND ANALYSIS

● thermocouple Based on the results in Table 1 we have:

● Beacker First, the equation of the line that describes

the variation in millivolts depending on the
● Heating plate system temperature, then, using the
● Distillation flask reference points of boiling water and ice
water is required:
● Universal support
𝑝1 = (100, 02.82)
● Bosshead
𝑝2 = (−0.1, −01.08)
● Ice
Therefore, the slope of the line is
● hoses
−01.08 − 02.82 −3.9 3
Process: 𝑚= = =
−0.1 − 100 −100.1 77
1- Arm assembly described in the guide, or ≈ 0.03896
the like depending on the laboratory
implements count. Then expression point- slope to determine
the equation of the subtraction is obtained
2- Add enough water in beacker with as
which to measure the ambient temperature
(thermometer) and the atmosphere voltage 𝑚𝑣 − 𝑚𝑣1 = 𝑚(𝑇 − 𝑇1 )
(thermocouple). substituting
3-Add sufficient water in the distillation 3
flask, until the thermometer has introduced 𝑚𝑣 − 02.82 = (𝑇 − 100)
77
around the tube into the water, then turn
the most of the heating plate and wait until 3 4143
𝑚𝑣 = 𝑇−
the water reaches its boiling point, finally 77 3850
measured temperature and voltage boiling 3
water. 𝑚𝑣(𝑇) = 𝑇 − 1.07610 (1)
77
4-Add water and ice on a beacker, stirring
until a thermal equilibrium, measuring the
temperature and voltage of this system.
Table 1. Experimental data of temperature and millivolts.

System (T) thermometer (Mv) Thermocouple

ambient 31 -00.02
 boiling water 100 02.82

Ice water -0.1 -01.08

Alcohol substance
57 01,02
unidentified

GRAFICA MV-T
3.5
3
2.5
2
MILIVOLTIOS

1.5
1
0.5
0
-20 0 20 40 60 80 100 120
-0.5
-1
-1.5
TEMPERATURA

Graphic 1. Millivolts and temperature ratio.

Subsequently, this relationship in equation Similarly, we proceed to calculate the

1 and the result of millivolts at room approximate boiling point alcohol
temperature, the approximate temperature unidentified, to determine the error with
for the system is calculated: respect to data measured with the
thermometer.
3
−00,02 = 𝑇 − 1.07610 Based on equation 1 it has
77
Punting have to 3
01.02 = 𝑇 − 1.07610
77
𝑇 = 27.107 °𝐶
getting T
Now we can estimate the error between the
temperature measured with the 𝑇 = 53.799°𝐶
thermometer and the approximate
temperature, based on Table 1, the room Now the estimated error is:
temperature was 31 ° C, then we have: 57 − 53.799
%𝐸 = | | ∗ 100 = 5.616%
31 − 27.107 57
%𝐸 = | | ∗ 100%
31 Finally, the equation of a straight line
= 12.558% allows us to determine the calibration of a
thermometer with respect to a system in
thermal equilibrium, in this experimental
setup calculations millivolts were in
function of temperature, therefore, was
effectively determined so this calibration
number and also calculate the percentage
error with respect to the values taken.
Importantly, the errors are related to
systematic errors, which are the main
factors of error in precision and accuracy
of measurements.
From measurements performed with the
different substances was proceeded to
score the different temperatures and
millivolts, these data showed that the
changes associated with the substance
(acetone), in which corresponds to the
temperature behavior, we proceeded to
average and calculate the central values of
each of these, attaching these results and
the corresponding statistical errors.
The result of the slope of this line
calibration obtain an important parameter
Thermocouple: its sensitivity.
CONCLUSION
From the results it is concluded that, for
temperature measurement, the
thermocouple is a good alternative, care
should be taken when measured as a
difference is obtained and a very high
percentage of error. This consequently of
random errors when taking and read
temperatures in the experiment.
It is determined that the thermocouple is a
suitable sensor, which can be used in
various fields because of the advantage of
withstanding environments where other
instruments have limitations.
Note the importance of calibrating the
instrument before use and is recommended
revise from time to time as certain
environmental factors could change the
thermoelectric properties of the
thermocouple.
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