Mariam Ashfaq 12D
Cooling curves
Calibration of thermometers
Aim -The objective of thermometer calibration is to determine the accuracy of digital thermometers
against alcohol thermometers.
Diagram 1 – digital Diagram 2 – alcohol-based thermometer
h
Equipment list:
- Bunsen burner
- Glass beaker
- Digital thermometer
- Alcohol thermometer
- Tripod
- 200ml of water
- Measuring cylinder
- Goggles
- Ice cubes
Risk assessment:
Equipment hazard Risk Prevention Treatment
Bunsen burner Burns Correct lab gear & Seek medical help and
goggles. Keep in a wash the affected
distance to Bunsen area with cold water
burner
Boiling water Burns Keep in a distance & Wash with cold water
wear goggle
Glass Cuts Prevent walking Seek medical assistant
around with glass and inform your
objects and keep teacher.
everything on the
surface table
Method:
With ice
1. To determine whether digital thermometers or alcohol thermometers are more accurate,
combine ice and cold water in a beaker.
2. Before taking any readings, mix the ice and water for 30 seconds.
3. Get your digital and alcohol thermometers prepared.
,Mariam Ashfaq 12D
4. To begin, place your alcohol thermometer in the beaker, surrounded by ice cubes and
constantly moving.
5. The thermometer should give a reading of 0 degrees Celsius accurately. If you rest the
thermometer against the ice, you will get a low reading, If you rest the thermometer against
the glass, you will get a high reading.
6. To avoid parallax error, ensure that the thermometer is in a straight line with your eyes, if
this is not considered it could lead to errors in results. Record the reading three times for
accuracy and if there are any anomalies then do not add them when calculating the average.
7. The average should be close to 0.
8. For digital thermometers, the same procedure applies place your ice and water in a beaker
and stir for 30 seconds before taking any readings.
9. Insert your digital reader probe into the beaker, making sure it is turned on and does not
meet the glass or ice.
10. The digital thermometer should read 0 degrees Celsius. Repeat the reading three times
more, keeping an eye out for any irregularities.
11. You should not include any anomalies in your average.
With boiling water
1. Begin by putting on goggles and filling a measuring cylinder with 200ml of water.
2. Fill a beaker with this water.
3. Set up a Bunsen burner and a tripod carefully and safely.
4. Ensure you are always standing during the particle and are concentrating and aware of your
surroundings.
5. Place the beaker on top of the tripod and gently bring the water to the boil using the Bunsen
burner.
Record your data three times to ensure that no anomalies are included, and then complete
the average.
6. It is the same concept for digital thermometers. Remember to wear safety goggles and
record readings accurately. Also consider altitude and atmospheric pressure when
calculating the boiling point as in Birmingham the atmospheric pressure from sea level when
calculating boiling water is around 99-99.88 degrees.
How to reduce the random errors:
To reduce random errors, repeat your experiment 3 times and ensure no anomalies are included and
then calculate the average. Avoid parallax error by keeping the thermometer in direct contact with
your eyes. Parallax error could lead to an inaccuracy in results.
, Mariam Ashfaq 12D
Results table:
THERMOMETER TEMP OF ICE (1) TEMP OF ICE (2) TEMP OF ICE (3) AVERAGE
Digital 1° 0.5° 0.5° 0.6°
Alcohol 1° 1° 0° 1°
THERMOMETER TEMP OF TEMP OF TEMP OF AVERAGE
BOILING WATER BOILING WATER BOILING WATER
(1) (2) (3)
Alcohol 102° 103° 103° 102.6°
Digital 100° 102° 102° 101.3°
Conclusion-When using a digital thermometer for the temperature of ice, the average reading of
temperature was 0.6 degrees Celsius.
And by using an alcohol reader I got the average of 1 degrees Celsius.
From the results I have collected I believe that for both working out the temperature of ice and the
temperature of boiling water the suitable thermometer to use is a digital thermometer as it gives
you the most accurate reading. The temperature of ice should be 0 degrees Celsius. The closest
result to 0 is 0.6 which was calculated by the digital thermometer. For boiling water, the
temperature should be 100 degrees Celsius and the closest reading to that was 101.6 degrees
Celsius which was again the reading from the digital thermometer. Overall, the experiment was
done well minimising the risk of error, however I believe further steps could have been taken to
make the results more accurate. For example, I believe that if crushed ice was used instead cubed
ice the results would be more accurate as cubed ice typically have a higher temperature reading.
Also, I believe the thermometers should not have been held by the beakers as it can cause
anomalies. Anomalies may be caused because of the thermometers touching the beakers.
Resolution:
- The lowest measurable increase of measurement on an instrument is referred to as
resolution.
- The resolution for both digital and alcohol are 1 degrees Celsius which reduces the accuracy
of results.
Temperature change of warm and boiling water
Aim -To evaluate the temperature change of boiling and walm water over time.
Equipment list:
Cooling curves
Calibration of thermometers
Aim -The objective of thermometer calibration is to determine the accuracy of digital thermometers
against alcohol thermometers.
Diagram 1 – digital Diagram 2 – alcohol-based thermometer
h
Equipment list:
- Bunsen burner
- Glass beaker
- Digital thermometer
- Alcohol thermometer
- Tripod
- 200ml of water
- Measuring cylinder
- Goggles
- Ice cubes
Risk assessment:
Equipment hazard Risk Prevention Treatment
Bunsen burner Burns Correct lab gear & Seek medical help and
goggles. Keep in a wash the affected
distance to Bunsen area with cold water
burner
Boiling water Burns Keep in a distance & Wash with cold water
wear goggle
Glass Cuts Prevent walking Seek medical assistant
around with glass and inform your
objects and keep teacher.
everything on the
surface table
Method:
With ice
1. To determine whether digital thermometers or alcohol thermometers are more accurate,
combine ice and cold water in a beaker.
2. Before taking any readings, mix the ice and water for 30 seconds.
3. Get your digital and alcohol thermometers prepared.
,Mariam Ashfaq 12D
4. To begin, place your alcohol thermometer in the beaker, surrounded by ice cubes and
constantly moving.
5. The thermometer should give a reading of 0 degrees Celsius accurately. If you rest the
thermometer against the ice, you will get a low reading, If you rest the thermometer against
the glass, you will get a high reading.
6. To avoid parallax error, ensure that the thermometer is in a straight line with your eyes, if
this is not considered it could lead to errors in results. Record the reading three times for
accuracy and if there are any anomalies then do not add them when calculating the average.
7. The average should be close to 0.
8. For digital thermometers, the same procedure applies place your ice and water in a beaker
and stir for 30 seconds before taking any readings.
9. Insert your digital reader probe into the beaker, making sure it is turned on and does not
meet the glass or ice.
10. The digital thermometer should read 0 degrees Celsius. Repeat the reading three times
more, keeping an eye out for any irregularities.
11. You should not include any anomalies in your average.
With boiling water
1. Begin by putting on goggles and filling a measuring cylinder with 200ml of water.
2. Fill a beaker with this water.
3. Set up a Bunsen burner and a tripod carefully and safely.
4. Ensure you are always standing during the particle and are concentrating and aware of your
surroundings.
5. Place the beaker on top of the tripod and gently bring the water to the boil using the Bunsen
burner.
Record your data three times to ensure that no anomalies are included, and then complete
the average.
6. It is the same concept for digital thermometers. Remember to wear safety goggles and
record readings accurately. Also consider altitude and atmospheric pressure when
calculating the boiling point as in Birmingham the atmospheric pressure from sea level when
calculating boiling water is around 99-99.88 degrees.
How to reduce the random errors:
To reduce random errors, repeat your experiment 3 times and ensure no anomalies are included and
then calculate the average. Avoid parallax error by keeping the thermometer in direct contact with
your eyes. Parallax error could lead to an inaccuracy in results.
, Mariam Ashfaq 12D
Results table:
THERMOMETER TEMP OF ICE (1) TEMP OF ICE (2) TEMP OF ICE (3) AVERAGE
Digital 1° 0.5° 0.5° 0.6°
Alcohol 1° 1° 0° 1°
THERMOMETER TEMP OF TEMP OF TEMP OF AVERAGE
BOILING WATER BOILING WATER BOILING WATER
(1) (2) (3)
Alcohol 102° 103° 103° 102.6°
Digital 100° 102° 102° 101.3°
Conclusion-When using a digital thermometer for the temperature of ice, the average reading of
temperature was 0.6 degrees Celsius.
And by using an alcohol reader I got the average of 1 degrees Celsius.
From the results I have collected I believe that for both working out the temperature of ice and the
temperature of boiling water the suitable thermometer to use is a digital thermometer as it gives
you the most accurate reading. The temperature of ice should be 0 degrees Celsius. The closest
result to 0 is 0.6 which was calculated by the digital thermometer. For boiling water, the
temperature should be 100 degrees Celsius and the closest reading to that was 101.6 degrees
Celsius which was again the reading from the digital thermometer. Overall, the experiment was
done well minimising the risk of error, however I believe further steps could have been taken to
make the results more accurate. For example, I believe that if crushed ice was used instead cubed
ice the results would be more accurate as cubed ice typically have a higher temperature reading.
Also, I believe the thermometers should not have been held by the beakers as it can cause
anomalies. Anomalies may be caused because of the thermometers touching the beakers.
Resolution:
- The lowest measurable increase of measurement on an instrument is referred to as
resolution.
- The resolution for both digital and alcohol are 1 degrees Celsius which reduces the accuracy
of results.
Temperature change of warm and boiling water
Aim -To evaluate the temperature change of boiling and walm water over time.
Equipment list:
