Peer reviewed
Direct linkERIC Number: EJ860224
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2008-Feb
Pages: 3
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0031-921X
EISSN: N/A
Mechanical Equivalent of Heat--Software for a Thermistor
Boleman, Michael
Physics Teacher, v46 n2 p92-94 Feb 2008
The Mechanical Equivalent of Heat Apparatus from PASCO scientific provides the means for doing a simple experiment to determine the mechanical equivalent of heat, "J." A necessary step of this experiment is to determine the temperature of an aluminum cylinder. By measuring the resistance of a thermistor embedded in the cylinder, one is able to determine the cylinder's temperature to plus or minus 1 degree C using a table of resistance versus temperature supplied by PASCO. To allow for a more accurate temperature determination, I have developed software to calculate the temperature to approximately plus or minus 0.3 degree C.
Descriptors: Computer Uses in Education, Computer Software, Physics, Heat, Science Instruction, Science Experiments, Measurement Equipment, Measurement Techniques, Science Laboratories, Scientific Principles
American Association of Physics Teachers. One Physics Ellipse, College Park, MD 20740. Tel: 301-209-3300; Fax: 301-209-0845; e-mail: pubs@aapt.org; Web site: http://scitation.aip.org/tpt
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Descriptive
Education Level: N/A
Audience: Teachers
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A
