Radiator Essay

1315 Words3 Pages

Radiators, like the one seen on the right, are common sights in homes today. They’ve cycled in and out of popularity over the decades, coming back into play recently as stylish additions in home renovation. However, not many people understand how chemistry is involved with a radiator. The thermochemical equation used is quite simple to understand, as radiators provide heat simply by heating up water and radiating heat from metal coils with steam in them. Radiators come in many sizes, shapes, and styles, and play a distinctive role in the history of central heating. Several versions of the home radiator were invented in the mid 19th century. One of the early versions was invented by a man named Franz San Galli sometime between 1855-1857. In 1863, …show more content…

To calculate the total heat energy of the radiator, you need the specific heat of the substance that’s being heated - or, in this case cooled - the mass of the substance that’s being heated, and the change in temperature. The change in temperature is found by subtracting the initial temperature from the final temperature. The formula used in a car radiator is as follows: Q = m cp △T where Q = quantity of energy (heat): measured in kJ m = mass of substance: measured in kg cp = specific heat of substance: measured in kJ/kg ºC △T = temperature increase of substance: measured in ºC Radiators are an important part of technology today, and will continue to be in the future. They’re a key part of central heating in homes, keeping large areas warm in the winter and cool in the summer. They also play a vital role in automobiles, keeping engines from overheating while we drive. The thermochemistry of radiators may be incredibly simple, but that just means the calculations are easier. And why wouldn’t it be simple? It’s just heating and cooling water to heat and cool other

More about Radiator Essay

Open Document