Re: Heating tape

[Ron Ebert <ebert@citrus.ucr.edu>]

At 12:03 PM 10/8/98 -0400, you wrote:
> To set up a lab to measure the coefficient of expansion of a metal, is it
> feasible to use electric heating tape or and electric heating coil as a
> heat source in place of the convention, but messy and hazardous ice water
> and live steam?
>
> If so what are some sources to obtain lengths of safe heating tape?
>
> Herb Gottlieb from New York City
> (Where our students get burns blisters using steam boilers and 
> lab benches and notebooks are damaged when ice water is spilled) 

We have a lecture demonstration which qualitatively demonstrates the
coefficient of expansion. It shouldn't be hard to adapt it as a lab where
the students can carry out quantitative measurements. It consists of a long
aluminum rod fixed at one end with a bench clamp. The other end rests on a
wood block, but between the rod and the block is a needle set perpendicular
to the rod. The end of the needle extends out past the edge of the table,
and affixed to it is a large paper arrow. When the aluminum rod is heated
with a burner, the arrow will rotate noticeably.


Ron Ebert
UCR Physics Department
ron.ebert@ucr.edu
http://phyld.ucr.edu