The Problem that I am going to investigate is to see the amount of energy required to raise the temperature of a one kilogram object by one degree Celsius. I will measure the temperature of the object every sixty seconds.

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Physics Coursework

The Problem that I am going to investigate is to see the amount of energy required to raise the temperature of a one kilogram object by one degree Celsius. I will measure the temperature of the object every sixty seconds. I will do this for ten minutes (six hundred seconds).

Some scientific knowledge that may help me in this investigation is the different methods of heat transfer. The different methods of heat transfer are: conduction, convection, radiation and evaporation. All of these methods of heat transfer may occur during me experiment.

Here is a description of all the processes of heat transfer:

Conduction

This is where the heat energy transfers through surfaces/objects. The heat energy makes the particles of the object vibrate which make the particles next to it vibrate, which makes the next one vibrate, etc. Once the thermal energy has passed through all the particles, it gets released into the atmosphere. Materials that are good heat conductors tend to be good electrical conductors. Examples of these are: metals such as gold, silver and copper. Other materials such as glass have smaller heat transfer values and are poor at transferring heat.

Convection

This is frequently the most appropriate way to transfer heat efficiently. It happens when the warmer area of a liquid or gas rise to areas of the water or gas that has a lower temperature and displaces the water with the lower temperature which then descends to where the warmer water was. This process will result in an incessant cycle of heat transfer. An example of convection current is a typical heating system in a house. The radiator gets heated and the heat rises and carries out the process described above.

Radiation

This is a type of energy transfer that consists of electromagnetic waves that travel at the speed of light. Unlike conduction and convection for radiation to occur there does have to be contact between the heat source and the object being heated. All objects take in and give out radiation. A type of electromagnetic radiation called infrared radiation is the method that heat can be transferred by through empty space. During radiation there is no exchange of mass and no medium is necessary.  Radiation is emitted when electrons with high energy in a greater atomic level decrease to lower energy levels. The energy that is lost is given off as light or electromagnetic radiation. The electron of an atom increases in energy levels when the atom absorbs energy.  The increase or decrease in temperature of an object is dependent on whether the energy being absorb is less than the energy that is being emitted (temperature drop) or the absorption of energy is more than the energy being emitted (temperature rise).

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Evaporation

This form of heat transfer is a result of the particles of a liquid (normally water) being given thermal energy and breaking away from their group. This makes the water ‘evaporate’ into steam. This steam can be very hot and contains a lot of pressure. An example of a piece of equipment that uses evaporation is a kettle.

Other scientific knowledge that will help me in my investigation are:

Specific Heat Capacity

Specific heat capacity is the “quantity of heat required to raise the temperature of a unit of mass of a substance by a unit change in temperature.” ...

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