LAB#: 13

DATE: 05/03/18

TITLE: To determine the effect of insulation on heat loss

AIM: Determining the effect of insulation on heat loss

APPARATUS AND MATERIALS: water, cotton, round bottom flask, retort stands, rubber
bungs, thermometer.

METHOD:

1. 500 ml of boiled water was placed into a round bottom flask that was insulated with
cotton and another 500ml in an uninsulated round bottom flask. Both flasks were fitted
onto two separate retort stands using two clamps.
2. Each flask was sealed with a rubber bung through which a thermometer of range 0-100
degrees Celsius is placed.
3. The temperature of the water in each flask was recorded.
4. Over the next 20minutes, the temperature of the water was recorded every minute in each
flask.
5. A graph was plotted to compare the heat loss for each flask for the 20minute period.
6. The rate of fall in temperature for the water in each flask was calculated.

RESULTS: TABLE SHOWING THE HEAT LOSS FOR THE INSULATED AND NON
INSULATED FLASK AT DIFFERENT TEMPERATURES
 TIME/MINUTES TEMPERATURE
Uninsulated Insulated
0 92.0 88.0
2 90.0 87.0
3 89.0 86.5
4 88.0 86.0
5 87.0 85.5
6 86.0 85.0
7 85.0 84.5
8 84.0 84.0
9 83.5 84.0
10 83.0 83.5
11 82.0 83.0
12 81.0 83.0
13 80.0 82.5
14 79.0 82.0
15 78.5 82.0
16 77.0 81.5
17 76.5 81.0
18 75.5 80.5
19 74.0 80.0
20 74.0 79.5

Gradient = (Y2 - Y1) ÷ (X2 - X1)

Gradient of heat loss for insulated flask using the two points (3, 86.5) and (18, 80.5).

(Y2 - Y1) ÷ (X2 - X1)

(80.5-86.5) ÷ (18-3) = -6.0/15

= -0.40

Gradient of heat loss for uninsulated flask using the two points (3, 89) and (18, 75.5).

(Y2 - Y1) ÷ (X2 - X1)

(75.5-89) ÷ (18-3) = -13.5/15

= - 0.90
TREND:

The negative gradient for both graphs means that the line slopes downwards and
temperature on the y-axis drops with time. The higher the gradient of a graph at a point, the
steeper the line is at that point hence the gradient for the uninsulated flask is -0.90 higher
and steeper than the insulated flask of -0.40. The trend indicates that there is a higher
downward drop in temperature of the water in the uninsulated flask.

DISCUSSION:

SOURCES OF ERROR:

LIMITATIONS:

PRECAUTIONS:

CONCLUSION: