Scribd
Upload
3K views6 pages

Lee's Disc Method: Thermal Conductivity: Aim of The Experiment

The document describes Lee's disc method for determining the thermal conductivity of a bad conductor. The method involves heating a disc sample placed between an upper steam chamber and lower disc. The temperatures are recorded until steady state is reached. Then the sample is removed and the lower disc's cooling rate is measured to calculate conductivity using the given formula. Key steps involve setting up the apparatus, recording initial temperatures, measuring the lower disc's cooling rate, and using collected data like material properties, dimensions and temperatures in the conductivity formula. The goal is to experimentally find the bad conductor's thermal conductivity.

Uploaded by

Aryan Verma
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
3K views6 pages

Lee's Disc Method: Thermal Conductivity: Aim of The Experiment

The document describes Lee's disc method for determining the thermal conductivity of a bad conductor. The method involves heating a disc sample placed between an upper steam chamber and lower disc. The temperatures are recorded until steady state is reached. Then the sample is removed and the lower disc's cooling rate is measured to calculate conductivity using the given formula. Key steps involve setting up the apparatus, recording initial temperatures, measuring the lower disc's cooling rate, and using collected data like material properties, dimensions and temperatures in the conductivity formula. The goal is to experimentally find the bad conductor's thermal conductivity.

Uploaded by

Aryan Verma
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 6

VIT University, Vellore Campus Materials Science Lab Manual and Record

Date: Reg. No.

Lee’s disc method: thermal conductivity

Aim of the Experiment:

To determine the thermal conductivity of the given bad conductor by Lee’s disc method

Apparatus Required:

 Lee’s apparatus
 A bad conductor in the form of a disc
 Two thermometers
 Stop watch
 Steam generator
 Weighing balance

Basic Theory:

Thermal conductivity (k) is the property of a material that indicates its ability to conduct heat.
Whenever there is a temperature gradient, conduction heat flows from higher to lower
temperature region. The amount of heat transfer can be expressed as:

 d 
Q  kA  t where, A – area of cross-section, (d/dx) – temperature gradient, t - time
 dx 

In this experiment, we are going to measure the thermal conductivity (k) using Lee’s “disc
method”.

Figure 1: Schematics of Lee’s apparatus


VIT University, Vellore Campus Materials Science Lab Manual and Record
Date: Reg. No.
In order to perform the experiment, at first steam is passed through the steam chamber. Then,
the temperatures shown by the thermometer ‘T1’ and ‘T2’ are observed until they become
steady. In this steady state, the rate of heat conducted through the experimental disc ‘S’ is
equal to the lower disc ‘C’. The thermal conductivity of bad conductor (card board) is given
by,

  
mc   d (r  2l )
 t 1
k 2
 r ( 2  1 )(2r  2l )

Here, m – mass of lower disc ‘C’, c – specific heat of the material of lower disc, d – thickness
of the bad conductor, r – radius of lower disc, l – thickness of the lower disc, 2 – steady state
temperature of the upper chamber ‘B’, 1 – steady state temperature of the lower disc ‘C’,
(/t)1 is the rate of cooling of the lower disc at temperature 1.

Figure 2: Experimental set-up for Lee’s disc method

Procedure:

1. Set the apparatus as shown in the figure so that the flat surface of the lower disc is
horizontal. Insert the bad conductor (card board) in between this lower disc and steam
chamber. Place the thermometers T1 and T2 in proper positions.

2. Allow the steam from the boiler to pass to the chamber.


VIT University, Vellore Campus Materials Science Lab Manual and Record
Date: Reg. No.

3. Now you can observe that the temperature indicated by thermometers begins to rise.
Wait till the steady state is reached when the temperature of the lower disc no longer
rises. Now, record the temperature of the lower disc (θ1). Record the temperature of
the steam (θ2) as indicated by the thermometer in the upper chamber.

4. Now remove the cardboard by lifting the upper chamber and place the steam chamber
in direct contact with the lower disc (Take the help of laboratory assistant). The
temperature of the lower disc rapidly rises.

5. Remove the steam chamber when the temperature of the lower disc has increased by
10 °C above the steady temperature θ1.

6. Allow the lower disc to cool down. Start a stop watch and note the temperature of the
lower disc for every 30 seconds until the temperature falls by 10 °C below the steady
temperature θ1.

7. Plot a graph by taking time along the X-axis and temperature along the Y-axis. From
the graph find the slope [i.e. (/t)1= Rate of cooling of the disc at θ1 K] between
(θ1 + 0.5) K and (θ1 - 0.5) K.

8. Measure the mass (m) of the lower disc with balance.

9. Calculate the thermal conductivity (k) of the bad conductor (card board) using the
formula.

Data given:

Specific heat of the material of lower disc (c) = 370 J/kg/K

Thickness of the bad conductor (d) = 2 mm

Diameter of the lower disc (l) = 11.3 cm


VIT University, Vellore Campus Materials Science Lab Manual and Record
Date: Reg. No.

Table:

Time Temperature
( ) ( )

Mass of lower disc (m) = ________________


VIT University, Vellore Campus Materials Science Lab Manual and Record
Date: Reg. No.
VIT University, Vellore Campus Materials Science Lab Manual and Record
Date: Reg. No.

Calculations:

Results:

The thermal conductivity of the bad conductor is found to be: __________________W/m/K

You might also like