Determination of the power rating of an electric kettle

Ibraheem Olugbade
148141
Introduction
This experiment is done to get the power rating of an electric kettle. The
temperature of water used for the experiment is measured using a thermometer
before boiling. The electric kettle is then used to boil the water and the time at

100 as it starts to boil is recorded using a stop watch. The report talks about
how realistic the experiment was and accuracy of the experiment was discussed.

Objective of the Experiment

The objective of this experiment was to determine the power rating of an electric
kettle.

Theory
The power rating of water from an electric kettle from the room temperature to the
boiling point can be calculated. This experiment quantifies the quantity of an
electrical power used to get the time it take to reach the boiling point. The formula
used to calculate the power rating of the electric kettle is:

Experimental Apparatus
Electric Kettle, equipped with electrical power meter, stop watch, beaker,
thermometer.

Experimental Procedure
The electric kettle was filled 0.5 litre of water. The temperature of the water will
then be measured before boiling. With the electric kettle plugged into the power
meter, switch it on and record the time it takes for the water to start boiling. The
experiment was then repeated again.

W el =

mC(100T room)
t

Where:
m= mass of the water
C= specific heat capacity of water
T= the temperature

t = time it takes for water to reach boiling point

Results
Volume , V =0.5 l=0.0005m

Density , =1000 kg /m3

Temperature of the room , T room =25
Specific heat capacity ,C=4180 J /kg/

Temperature of the water ()

23
20
Analysis of Results

m=V
10000.0005

0.5 kg
W el ,1=

mC(100T room)
t

0.5 kg4180(10025)
97 s

1616 W
W el ,2=

0.5 kg4180( 10025 )

110 s

1425W
W el , 1/
100
W el ,1
error =

W el , 2

Time( s)
97
110

14251616
100
1616

11.81
Discussion
In the first one, the temperature of water was

23

which took 97s to just start

to boil and the other one which the temperature of water was
about 110s to reach

20

and took

100 . From the results, we were able to calculate the power

rating of the kettle. Because the experiment was repeated, we found two power
rating and calculated the percent error to show how accurate the results were. The
percent error was 11.81% which was a little high and showed how the accurate or
inaccurate the results were.

Conclusion
The objective of this experiment was to determine the power rating of an electric
kettle. Through this experiment, we were able to know how long it to for a water to
boil. This experiment was done in my home and is realistic enough.
They were few sources of error in this experiment. One of the error is a systematic
error because the thermometer I used was a little old and faulty, so the results
could be inaccurate. Another source of error can from the temperature of the room
because the temperature was inconsistent.