Comparison of Newton Correction Between Joule’s Law Experiment and Ice Heat of Fusion Experiment

Abstract

The reliability of the thermophysical experiment results is largely determined by the accuracy of temperature determination. The arising problem is that the measured temperature does not indicate the temperature that corresponds to the thermal process of the system, because it is already affected by environmental temperatures that are different from the system temperature. The temperature of the object which is measured by the thermometer is the one that has been affected by the ambient temperature. While the one used to calculate the heat is the temperature of the object that is not affected by the ambient temperature. In this case, it is necessary to take into account the temperature correction that follows Newton's Law for cooling or heating rate for calculating the heat. This research aimed to compare the results of Newton Correction applications on two experiments using calorimeters. One is the experiment of converting electrical energy into heat, popularly known as the Joule's Law experiment. The second experiment was an energy conservation experiment to determine the ice melting heat (heat of fusion) based on Black's principle, by mixing water with ice. In Joule's Law experiment, heat generated from the conversion of electrical energy was used to raise the temperature of the calorimeter and its contents. This meant that the ambient temperature was always smaller than the temperature of the calorimeter. While on the experiment of determining the melting heat of ice, the temperature of the calorimeter and its contents will decrease, then the ambient temperature is always greater than the temperature of the calorimeter. Newton's correction comparison in the two experiments was evaluated through constant comparison of Newton's law formulation for cooling or heating rates. The results showed that there was a better result both in Joule's Law experiment and the Heat of Ice Fusion experiment if Newton Correction is applied without Newton Correction. The value of constant of Newton Correction was obtained in both experiments is in the same order.