Tafila Technical University

faculty of Mechanical Engineering

Experiment name: Mechanical

Equivalent.
Name: JAWAD_ AHMAD_ ALMASARWAH

 Introduction
The original development of the law of conservation of energy
proceeded slowly. One of the last important ideas that was
needed for a complete, consistent theory was the development
of the science of thermodynamics. Finding the connection
between mechanical energy and heat (thermal energy) was a
crucial step in this understanding.

Joule did the original experiment to find an equivalence

between the units of mechanical energy (in Joules!) and units
of heat (calories). His experiment dealt

with a system of falling weights that converted the lost

potential energy of the system into thermal energy in a
container of water that was being stirred by a paddle driven by
the falling weights. Our experiment is similar in nature. We will
do work on our system by turning a handle against the force of
friction and using this energy to warm an aluminum cylinder.

Thus the mechanical energy introduced into our system will be

the work done by friction. The work (in Joules) done by a
friction force can be calculated by

1) Wf = f Δs = f (2 π r) N,

where f is the friction force, r is the radius of the cylinder and N

is the number of turns through which the cylinder rotates.

The heat energy, ΔQ, (in calories) transferred into the

aluminum cylinder can be Calculated by observing the
temperature, ΔT, rise of the aluminum and calculating the
following: 2) ΔQ = m C ΔT

 Objectef
To determine the mechanical equivalent of heat and verify the
first law of thermodynamic .

 Equipment preparation
Prepare the equipment for experimental use as follows :

a) clean and dry .

b) Warp the belt 1.5 times round the circumference of the

calorimeter drum with the pile of the belt inwards .attach the
single end of the belt to the carrier for the light weights and
connect to the spring balance .attach the double end of the belt
to the heavy weight carrier as shown in the figure 1 and
illustrated below.
 THEORY
  Data Analysis
N of rev Temp © W (j) Q (cal) J(j/cal)
0 0 15 0 0 0
1 200 19 3581.8 1694.10 2.11
2 400 23 7194.5 3386.22 2.12
3 600 27 10750.40 5509.75 1.93
4 800 31 14330.15 7625.25 1.89
5 1000 35 17908.14 9318.20 1.95
  Conclusion
From the above analysis we can see that the liner
relation between temp and Number of revolution All
work can be converted to equivalent heat. But all
amount of heat cannot be converted to work the
accurate value foe j is 4.18 j/cal if you take the average
of joule's to be 1.994– the percent of error is 52.2% cal.