Describe a calorimeter. Explain how heat
loss from a calorimeter by conduction,
convection and radiation is minimised.
Answers
A calorimeter is a cylindrical copper vessel kept on a support and enclosed in an insulating jacket such as a wooden box with a lid. The lid has two narrow holes, one for the stirrer and the other for inserting a thermometer.
The outer and the inner surfaces of a calorimeter are polished to reduce the exchange of heat between the calorimeter and its surroundings by radiation.
The space between the copper vessel and the outer insulating jacket is filled with a bad conductor of heat such as felt or glasswool to reduce the exchange of heat with the surroundings by conduction
The lid made of insulating material such as wood reduces the exchange of heat with the surroundings by convection.
A calorimeter is used to determine the specific heat of a substance using the law of conservation of energy
