Activity 1. Finding the relationship between temperature and heat 

Temperature is a physical measurement of how ‘hot’ or ‘cold’ a substance is based on the average kinetic energy of particles in the substance. The amount of heat energy in an object is related to temperature, but temperature by itself is not a measure of the thermal energy (heat) in an object. Identical thermometers in two pots of water on a hot stove will show different temperatures even if the pots have been on the stove for the same time if the amount of water in each pot is different.

 45 minutes

 QLDPH11_MA1.spklab

 MA1_TemperatureHeat.cap (capstone)

In this experiment, a metal sample is heated by placing it in a beaker of boiling water. The temperature of the metal will increase as it absorbs energy from the water. The metal sample is then placed in a calorimeter cup and the temperature logged as the water in the cup and sample reach equilibrium. 

By measuring the change in temperature in the water before the metal is added, and as it comes to equilibrium, it is possible to find the heat energy given to the metal by the water. By measuring the metal’s mass and its change in temperature, the metal’s specific heat capacity can be found.

 45 minutes

The voltage, V, across an ohmic resistor and the current, I, through it are related to its resistance by the linear relationship Ohm’s law, V = IR.

The resistance is the inverse of the gradient of the line in a graph of the current drawn by a resistor when the potential difference is varied. 

This experiment requires correct use of a voltmeter and ammeter. 

For an object falling vertically, from rest, the acceleration of the object will be the acceleration due to gravity, g, near the Earth’s surface if the effects of air resistance are ignored. By collecting data of the time taken for the object to hit the ground when it falls from a height s, with an initial velocity of zero, the acceleration due to gravity can be found from the gradient of the line.

By graphing s versus t², the gradient of the line is the acceleration due to gravity. 

The following equations describe motion in a straight line with constant acceleration: • The velocity of an object is the rate at which displacement changes: v = ∆s/∆t
The velocity can be found gradient of the line of best fit of a displacement–time graph. 

• Similarly, the acceleration of an object can be found as the rate of change of velocity: a = ∆v/∆t
It is the gradient of a velocity–time graph.

n₁ sini=n₂ sinr 

The relative refractive index is the ratio n₂/n₁ .