Dan Burger

Partners: Robert Joie, Digno Iglesias, Ethan Wagner

Instructor: Erin Wenger
Heat of Fusion of Water
3/24/16

Abstract:
The purpose of this lab is to use the ideal gas law as well as pressure and temperature
measurements to determine the value of absolute zero in degrees Celsius.

Introduction:
In this lab the ideal gas law is used to find the value of absolute zero in degrees
𝑛𝑅𝑇
Celsius. The equation for the idea gas law is as follows; P= 𝑉 , where T is temperature,
𝐽
V is volume, P is pressure, R is a constant which is 8.3145𝑚𝑜𝑙∗𝐾 and n is equal to the
number of moles in the container. Also the equation of a line (Y=mx+b) is used to find
the temperature at pressure=0 given data points found. A rigid (TD-8595) sphere, which
is hooked up to a computer data acquisition system, which can calculate pressure and
temperature, was completely submerged into four different containers containing water
with varying in temperature. The sphere measured the temperature and pressure of a
container filled with cold, hot, room temperature and room temperature with cold water
added. These values for each container were found and recorded. The values where then
plotted on a graph showing a linear function between temperature and pressure. The four
points found using the sphere were used in the graph to find the equation of the line
produced. Once the equation of the line was found, pressure was plugged into the
equation as zero in order to find the temperature in degrees Celsius of zero pressure. This
point is called the absolute zero that’s value; in theory is -273.15 degrees Celsius.

Procedure:
Firstly, all the equipment needed must be gathered. A computer data acquisition
system with data studio is needed as well as a rigid (TD-8595) sphere, an absolute
pressure sensor (CI-6532A) a thermistor sensor (CI-6527A) a Vernier caliper, four
buckets, water and lastly ice. Once all of these items have been collected, the computer
acquisition system must be set up with data studio. Next the stereo plug from the sphere
was connected to the temperature sensor; next the hose fitting was connected to the
pressure sensor. The hose should not be removed until the end of all experiments to keep
the n (number of moles) constant. Next click the data studio setup button to add displays
for temperature and pressure, as well as a graph for pressure vs. temperature. Next three
water baths are prepared, one at room temperature, one with hot water and one with cold
water. For the cold water mix ice with room temperature water, for run two use tap water
, for run three use hot tap water and for the last bath use room temperature water with
cold water. Next completely submerge the sphere in the ice water, click the start button
and the sensors will start to take data. Make sure to look at the temperature display
constantly and when the temperature stabilizes, record the data point. Do the same as
above for the room temperature water but then add some cold water to the bath and wait
for the temperature to stabilize, and then record the data point. Next, take the data points
of the hot bath using the method above. Lastly take the data point from the room
temperature water. Next a graph can be plotted with the four data points collected and an
equation is found from line using a linier curve fit.
Data
Bath Temperature ℃ Pressure (Kpa)

Cold 8.1 92.6

Hot 33.7 100.8
Room 26.6 99.1
Room+Cold 16.1 97.2

Pressure vs. Temperature Data

102

100 y = 0.3018x + 91.05

98
Pressure
96
(Kpa)
Linear (Series1)
94

92

90
0 10 20 30 40
Temperature (K)

Sample Calculations:
𝑛𝑅𝑇
P= 𝑉
Y=mx+b
0=0.3018x+91.05
x=-292.5℃
Discussion:
Due to the sphere not being disconnected from the pressure sensor, there was no
𝑛𝑅𝑇
change in n which means that the equation P= 𝑉 could not be used because there were
two unknown’s. The same results were achieved using the linear interpolation of the
temperature vs. time graph by plugging in zero for the pressure. Using the equation of a
line, it was found that when the pressure was zero, the temperature was -292.5 ℃. When
compared to 1 Kelvin, which is -273.15℃, the values are very close. Absolute zero,
however cannot actually be achieved. On the graph it looks like it would be a reasonable
assumption to make that if there was actually no pressure it could happen but the fact is
there is nowhere for all of the energy to escape so absolute zero cannot be achieved.
References:
PHY113 Laboratory Manual, August 2013