Physics Grade 10
Chapter 16: Temperature and Heat
16.1 Temperature and the Zeroth Law of Thermodynamics
Lab Report
Name: ________________________________ Class: ______________________ date: _____________
This laboratory activity allows students to explore the principles of thermal equilibrium
through hands-on experimentation, data collection, and analysis. It provides a practical
understanding of how heat transfer occurs and the factors that in luence thermal
equilibrium.
Objective:
-Investigate the effect of thermal equilibrium on the temperature of objects in contact.
Safety Considerations:
Handle hot water with care to avoid burns.
Materials:
Two containers (one beaker and one test tube)
Hot water
Cold water
Thermometer
Stopwatch or timer
Inquiry Question:
- How does the temperature of objects in contact change?
- What is the change in the temperature of a hot object when it is in contact with an
object of lower temperature?
Hypothesis:
I hypothesize that the temperature of the hot object will decrease till they both are in
thermal equilibrium
Procedure:
1. Fill the test tube with hot water and the beaker with cold water.
2. Measure the initial temperatures of both containers using the thermometers
3. Keep a thermometer in each container
4. Put the hot water container inside the cold-water container. And start the timer
5. At 20 seconds record the temperature in the hot container. Don’t stop the timer
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6. At 40 seconds record the temperature in the hot container. Don’t stop the timer
7. At 60 seconds record the temperature in the hot container. Don’t stop the timer
8. At 90 seconds record the temperature in the hot container. Don’t stop the timer
9. Keep recording the temperature every 30 seconds till you observe that temperature
change has almost stop
10. Record the temperatures in both container
Results:
Time (seconds) Temperature (C°)
20 60
40 50
60 45
90 40
120 38
Hot container Cold container
Temperature at the beginning (C°) 70 9
Temperature at equilibrium (C°) 38 38
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Graphical Representation:
a. Plot a graph of temperature (y-axis) against time (x-axis) for the hot water.
Discussion and Analysis:
a. Summarize the indings of the experiment. Explain the concept of thermal
equilibrium and how it relates to the experiment.
When we mixed hot and cold water, the temperature of the hot water decreased and
that of the cold water increased till they both are in thermal equilibrium.
b. The experiment aligns to which law in Thermodynamics?
Zeroth law of thermodynamics
c. Describe the changes in the temperature of the hot water?
As shown in the graph the temperature of hot water decreases.
Conclusion:
Draw conclusions about the concept of thermal equilibrium based on the results.
My hypothesis is correct. When objects of different temperature are in contact, their
temperatures will change to reach thermal equilibrium.
Critical thinking Question:
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How does the choice of materials for the containers impact the time required to reach
thermal equilibrium, and what speci ic material properties contribute to this effect?
The material of the container can affect the thermal equilibrium since some material allow
heat exchange with the surrounding, or some materials can absorb a part of this energy.
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