Calorimetry Lab: Mix Samples and Compare Temperatures
Mix two samples in an insulated calorimeter model. Change materials, masses, and temperatures to compare equilibrium temperature and heat transfer.
Free, with no sign-up.
For High school students and adults reviewing the topic.
About 8 minutes.
How does it work?
- Choose each material, mass, and starting temperature.
- Compare the final temperature with the two starting temperatures.
- Adjust the setup and check a challenge.
What will you get?
Compare heat gained and lost, then solve two temperature targets.
What does the model assume?
- The calorimeter is insulated. No heat enters or leaves the two-sample system.
- The calorimeter itself has negligible heat capacity. The samples reach one equilibrium temperature.
- There is no phase change, chemical reaction, or work transfer. Specific heats are constant over the modeled range.
- The model uses q = mcΔT. Heat entering a sample is positive; heat leaving it is negative.
- Specific heats are from the OpenStax general chemistry table at 25 °C and 1 bar: water 4.184, aluminum 0.897, and copper 0.385 J/(g·°C).
Which setup would you like to try?
What can you change?
Range: 50 to 500 g.
Range: 5 to 95 °C.
Range: 50 to 500 g.
Range: 5 to 95 °C.
What does the model predict?
| Quantity | Value | Unit |
|---|---|---|
| Equilibrium temperature | 25.0558 | °C |
| Heat entering sample A | -2,115.3513 | J |
| Heat entering sample B | 2,115.3513 | J |
Can you reach these targets?
Mix 100 g of water at 80 °C with 100 g of water. Reach 50 °C.
- Target: Sample A mass = 100 g; tolerance 0 g.
- Target: Sample B mass = 100 g; tolerance 0 g.
- Target: Sample A starting temperature = 80 °C; tolerance 0 °C.
- Target: Equilibrium temperature = 50 °C; tolerance 0.01 °C.
- Sample A material (Water)
- Sample B material (Water)
Mix water at 80 °C with 200 g of water at 20 °C. Reach 40 °C.
- Target: Sample B mass = 200 g; tolerance 0 g.
- Target: Sample A starting temperature = 80 °C; tolerance 0 °C.
- Target: Sample B starting temperature = 20 °C; tolerance 0 °C.
- Target: Equilibrium temperature = 40 °C; tolerance 0.01 °C.
- Sample A material (Water)
- Sample B material (Water)