Re: [Phys-l] heat labs?

[Bernard Cleyet <bernardcleyet@redshift.com>]

Everybody does state changes of water -- how about a metal.  One can 
expand this using alloys.  Try pure lead and tin then solder.  Try tooth 
paste tubes, etc.  They're supposed to be Sn.  Not too advanced, I'd 
think, is finding the phase diagram by doing the cooling curves w/ 
various concentrations of Sn in Pb.   Then one can check solder for its 
composition.  Is it of eutectic composition?  Good teaching moment for 
why the best solder comes ~ 60/40%.   Vernier has a thermocouple preamp. 
etc. 

http://www.vernier.com/innovate/innovativeuse46.html

And Wiki's take on this:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eutectic_point


bc, did this for engineering materials.

p.s. regarding Joule heating, how about the "mechanical equivalent"   
One can purchase ot make their own.


<http://www.sargentwelch.com/product.asp_Q_pn_E_CP36805-00_EA_A_Mechanical+Equivalent+of+Heat+Apparatus,+Dry+Thermistor,+CENCO_E_>


Anthony Lapinski wrote:

> As our school year begins, I am looking for a good lab to do for my HEAT
> topic. I teach physics in HIGH SCHOOL, and all of my labs are LOW TECH.
> I've had some difficulty finding good labs to perform that are different
> from the ones typically done in chemistry:
>
> heat ice to boiling, then make a phase diagram
> determine the specific heat of a metal
>
> I don't want the labs to be too easy, like mixing hot/cold water and
> predict final temperature.
>
> I have tried the burning food lab, where you burn a peanut under a beaker
> of water to determine the energy (calorie) content of various foods, then
> compare it to the nutrition label on package. Interesting consumer
> physics, but very messy and the results are poor due to all the heat loss.
>
> I read an experiment somewhere (source?) about an immersion heater placed
> in water. This deals with the conversion of electric energy to heat
> energy. This might work, but I teach heat before electricity. Has anyone
> ever tried this lab? Do students like it, and are the results good?
>
> Are there any other types of heat lab activities (quantitative or
> qualitative) appropriate for this age level.? I would appreciate any
> suggestions. Thanks in advance!
>
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