I'm doing a lab report on an analysis of alum, and one of my discussion questions is the one listed above. Will the mass change if the object is not cooled?
2006-09-25 09:50:37 · 6 answers · asked by Nikki 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Chemistry
The reason is due to air currents from a heated item.
The balance is so sensitive that the rising hot air from the heated object will cause an instability in the recorded mass of the object.
It is always best to allow any object to reach room temperature before attempting to measure its mass.
2006-09-25 09:52:29 · answer #1 · answered by Richard 7 · 74⤊ 0⤋
I remember doing this experiment and the error analysis was lousy - probably for the above reason. The air currents generate a force that causes the weight to oscillate. The mass of the object remains constant but the force that the object exerts on the scale changes due to the air currents.
2006-09-25 10:06:34 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Sensitive Balance
2016-12-13 05:57:08 · answer #3 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
2 reasons: 1) The heat will affect the electronics of the ballance and introduce error. 2) Thermal expansion causes the density to change, affecting the bouyance. Like a hot air balloon, but on a much smaller scale.
2006-09-25 09:55:32 · answer #4 · answered by Peter L 2 · 0⤊ 2⤋
believe it or not, the difference in temperature between the object and the air is enough to create air currents that can partially lift substances enough to affect the measured mass.
2006-09-25 09:54:28 · answer #5 · answered by Greg G 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Sure thing
2016-08-08 15:50:46 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋