Heat Transfer Experiment

Introduction:

This experiment, analysed the methods of heat transfer and temperature regulation. Part A of the experiment focused on the rate of thermal conduction through three materials: white house timber, glass and zincaneal. Part B of the experiment looked at temperature change through three simple experiments utilising either conduction, convection and radiation. With the knowledge gained in the previous two parts of the experiment a material was chosen to optimise the temperature of a building structure for part C. All results of these experiments were recorded and analysed.

Background information:

Laws of thermodynamics:

Thermodynamics is a broad and complex concept within physics. Thermodynamics makes us familiar with ideas such as heat and temperature and how these phenomenas relate to our everyday lives. Thermodynamics explores the relationship between heat and energy, there are four fundamental laws which elegantly which elegantly describe this relationship. The first law, referred to as the zeroth law explains the concept of a temperature scale, the law states that if two objects or systems are in thermal equilibrium with a third, then they are also know to be in thermal equilibrium with each other. The second law, referred to as the first law of thermodynamics explains the concept of energy, the law states that the internal energy of a system can only be changed in two ways, this being through work or exchange of heat. Simplified it can be said that the internal energy of a system is the sum of energy contained within the system. The third law, referred to as the second law gives an insight on everyday exchange of heat, the law states that heats flows from an object at a higher temperature to a object with a ...

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... where all related back to the three types of heat transfer.

Part C:

For Part C of the experiment, a simple house model was constructed to see the temperature change over time within a structure. With the knowledge gained from previous parts of the experiment, a material was chosen to optimise the temperature within the structure. For our structure white coloured timber was chosen. The structure was built and placed on the roof of the physics lab building where it would undergo temperature changes within the next 24 hours due to its constantly changing surroundings. The temperature variation of the model house was collected over a 24 hour period by the data measuring equipment placed within the house and recored online. All results where observed and it was discussed why the outcomes where so and how this was relevant to heat transfer and the material used.