Department of Chemical Engineering

Thermodynamic-II for Chemical Engineers

LAB REPORT#2

Group A-2
Rabia Idrees. FA21-CHE-085
Huda Fatima. FA21-CHE-09
Malaika Riaz. FA21-CHE-102
Ashnab Zahid. FA21-CHE-063

Section: A

Submitted To: Dr. Mehwish Batool

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Table of Contents
Objective:....................................................................................................................................................3
Hypothesis:..................................................................................................................................................3
Theory:........................................................................................................................................................3
Apparatus:...................................................................................................................................................4
Chemical used:............................................................................................................................................5
Assembly:....................................................................................................................................................5
Experimental procedure:.............................................................................................................................5
Observation and calculations:.....................................................................................................................5
Conclusion:..................................................................................................................................................6
Equipment Safety:.......................................................................................................................................6
Personal safety precaution:.........................................................................................................................6
Applications:................................................................................................................................................6

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 Experiment No.2

Mechanical equivalent Heater

Objective:
 Measure the mechanical equivalent of heat.
 Analyze the result by varying the masses.

Hypothesis:
Mechanical work is directly proportional to heat. And heat produced as a result of mechanical
friction.

Theory:
The mechanical equivalent of heat is that amount of work required to raise the temperature of a

substance of unit mass by 1 K. The concept stated that motion and heat are mutually

interchangeable and that in every case, a given amount of work would generate the same amount

of heat, provided the work done is totally converted to heat energy. In thermodynamics, the

mechanical equivalent of heat, symbol J (in honor of James Joule), is the ratio of a unit of

mechanical energy (work) to the equivalent unit of thermal energy (W/Q) when a system of units

is used in which they differ.

J = W/Q

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Where J is a constant known as the mechanical equivalent of heat

The mechanical equivalent of heat states that motion and heat are mutually interchangeable and

that in every case, a given amount of work would generate the same amount of heat, provided the

work done is totally converted to heat energy.

The mechanical equivalent of heat was a concept that had an important part in the development
and acceptance of the conservation of energy and the establishment of the science of
thermodynamics in the 19th century.

For a long time it was debated as to whether the heat of a system, used to define in terms of its

temperature, was a form of energy or an independent magnitude which is conserved. During the

first half of the nineteenth century, it was proven that mechanical energy due to friction is

completely converted to heat, independent of the course of the transformation process and of the

physical and chemical characteristics of the material used. Heat was accordingly defined as the

energy of disorganized, macroscopic-ally invisible molecular movements.

In this experiment, a metal test body is rotated and heated by the friction due to a tensed band of

synthetic material. The mechanical equivalent of heat is determined from the defined mechanical

work and from the thermal energy increase deduced from the increase of temperature. Assuming

the equivalence of mechanical work and heat, the specific thermal capacity of aluminum, brass

and copper is determined.

Drag Force:

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It is a friction force that opposite the motion of an object through a fluid. In this experiment, the
work is performed by rotating the friction cylinder against the sliding friction force F R of the
friction band. As weight M is not accelerate when the crank is rotated, weight FG = mg or ma on
one side and sliding frictional force FR acting another together with force FD on suspension of the
dynamo-meter on the other side.

FR = FG - F D

Friction work is determined from thr friction path of 2πr n.

W = 2πr n FR = 2πr n (FG - FD)

N= no. of turns

The synthetic band slides over the cylinder, a large portion of mechanical work is converted to
thermal energy ΔQ through inelastic deformations of the friction material. The temperature of
the friction cylinder increase by the temperature difference.

ΔQ = Ctot. ΔT

Ctot = total thermal capacity that is sum of the thermal capacity of cylinder, thermal capacity of
thermometer and thermal capacity of band.

Ctot = Ccylinder.l Cthermometer. Cband

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Apparatus:

Friction cylinder
 Thermometer

 Weights

 Dynamometer

 Crank handle

Experimental procedure:

 Determine the mass of friction cylinder by weighing it and fix the friction cylinder and
crank handle to the journal bearing.

 Hang spring balance from the holder.

 Attach the friction band to the spring balance.

 Wrap the band 2.5 times around the cylinder so that the load on the balance is relieved if
crank handles is turned to right.

 Attach a weight to the lower end of the friction band.

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 Fill the hole in the cylinder with the thermally conducting paste and measure the
temperature of cylinder at start of experiment (T1).

 Make a define number of rotations (say 100) with the crank handle as evenly as possible.

 Force exerted by the hanging mass is FG.

 Drag force FD is a force which is acting in opposite direction to FG.

 After a define number of rotations, note the temperature T2.

Observation and Calculations:

Mass of friction cylinder = m =5 kg

Radius of frictional cylinder = r =2.25 cm = 0.025m

Drag force = FD = 20 N

Initial temperature of cylinder = T1 = 18 C

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 Sr. Number Force on Cylinder Work due Thermal Mechanical
to Energy
of spring temperature Equivalent
friction Q= m C total
rotations balance FG at the end of Heat
(T2-T1)
W=2π r n
(n) (N) T2 J=W/Q
(FG-FD) (J)
(C)
(J)

1 300 49 22 1365.9 34600 0.0395

The higher the dew points, the

more moisture there is in the air
at a given temperature.
t temperature and air
temperature are equal, the air is
said to be
Saturated
Display Results:

Work= 1365.9 J

Heat Q= 34600 J

Mechanical Equivalent of Heat

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 J=W/Q= 0.0395

Applications:

The Mechanical Equivalent Heater (MEH) finds applications in diverse industries, including
materials testing for manufacturing processes like plastic molding and metal casting. It is
instrumental in environmental chambers for product testing in sectors such as electronics and
automotive. MEHs play a crucial role in energy efficiency testing, benefiting industries involved
in heating and cooling system development. Additionally, the devices contribute to the
calibration of temperature sensors, ensuring accuracy in sectors like healthcare and research.

6- Precautions:

 Use thermal grease while inserting thermometer in the cylinder to avoid the trapping of
air and for insulation.

 Thermometer should be at the angle of 180 degree with cylinder otherwise the breakage
of thermometer is possible.

 The speed of rotation should be uniform.

 Do not put your feet beneath the hanging mass.

.

The higher the dew points, the

more moisture there is in the air
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at a given temperatureew point
temperature and air temperature
are equal, the air is said to be
saturated

Conclusions:
This experiment demonstrates the conversion of mechanical energy into heat energy.
Consequently, increasing the weight leads to higher heat loss due to friction generated on the
metal cylinder, necessitating more work to raise the temperature by 1 Kelvin. This relationship
can be simplified as the mass of the substance is directly proportional to the work done on the
system. The work done on the system is directly proportional to the mechanical equivalent of
heat. Thus, it follows that increasing the mass results in a higher mechanical equivalent of heat.

The higher the dew points, the more moisture there is in the air at a given temperature.
 When the dew point temperature and air temperature are equal, the air is said to be
Saturated.
The higher the dew points, the more moisture there is in the air at a given temperature.
 When the dew point temperature and air temperature are equal, the air is said to be
Saturated.

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