I5-01. Mechanical Equivalent Of Heat - Shot Bag

Purpose

To demonstrate that heat can be produced from mechanical work.

Equipment

Shot bag and digital thermometer.

Images

Description

The temperature of lead shot in a shot bag is measured with the digital thermometer. The shot bag is then beat on the floor about ten times, and the temperature measured once again. The work done in beating the shot bag on the floor has been converted to heat. Not very much heat though: use the tenth degree scale!

References

R. D. Edge, String and Sticky Tape: The Mechanical Equivalent of Heat, TPT 25, 456, (1987). F. Neff Weber, Measuring the Mechanical Equivalent of Heat - Mechanically, TPT 30, 507 (1992). F. Paul Inscho, Apparatus for Teaching Physics: Mechanical Equivalent of Heat, TPT 30, 372-373 (1992).