Name: Leilou Gourguechon

An investigation into calorimeter efficiency Year 8

B(i) The problem to be tested.

In this experiment, I will be investigating a problem and then performing the experiment. The problem that I want
to investigate is: How does time affect the efficiency of the calorimeter? I chose to investigate the efficiency of the
calorimeter because I want to test how much energy will be given out depending on how long I am burning the
ethanol. I think the time as my independent variable is most interesting to investigate because I think it is the most
important compared to the others because I think there is more to investigate and I will have an accurate and better
answer. I also think I will increase my knowledge further due to how much research I will be doing which I think
is good for future experiences. It is a well known theory to be tested in any kind of experiment because time is the
main concept that can make a difference in most experiments. This experiment is inspired by the topic that is
being taught in my lessons, which is the atmosphere. This experiment is related to the atmosphere because, during
the experiment, I will be releasing energy into the water and the teacher has taught us about the different types of
energy and where they go. This is an investigation that models real life, because the atmosphere and what is being
released in it is part of a real world situation, whether it is positive or negative.

B(ii) Hypothesis.
My hypothesis is that the efficiency of the calorimeter will increase the longer it burns. According to my thinking,
the longer time (independent variable) I am burning the ethanol, the efficiency of the calorimeter (dependent
variable) will increase because the longer the ethanol will be burning, the more energy will be released which
means the percentage of efficiency of the calorimeter will increase. The numbers will increase in my calculations
because I will have burnt more ethanol which will increase all numbers leading to a larger result.
According to my research, it is proven that one of the many concepts in order to increase the efficiency of the
calorimeter, is to increase the time given to burn the ethanol because it will have released more energy meaning
the efficiency will increase as well. And that this is the same the other way. If we decrease the time used to burn
the ethanol, the amount of energy released will be lower, leading to the efficiency becoming lower.
 B(iii) Collecting valid data
In order for me to test my independent variable, I will be using the following values, meaning times to burn the
ethanol in order to collect data:
- 2 mins (x2)
- 4 mins
- 6 mins
- 7 mins
- 8 mins
I chose these values because they had a well timed chosen gap of time in between, in order for me to be more
accurate with my data and make the most accurate assumptions. There is a rather large difference between the
smallest and largest number and I think it is good because it will test overall, how much difference there can be
between those times. I will be changing the independent variable four times in order to get accurate results. I
think I will be testing each independent variable only once except for the first one, which is 2 mins, since we are
only given a short amount of time to collect the data. I am testing the first one twice in order to get accurate
results on the first one since it is one of the most important. With a few calculations, I am able to measure my
dependent variable directly after collecting all of my data. In order to find the dependent variable, I will be
measuring how much energy that was released into the atmosphere after burning it for a specific amount of time
which will lead to finding the efficiency of the calorimeter. I will be needing to follow the formula given by the
teacher in order to find the efficiency of the calorimeter. It will be based on how much weight is being lifted. In
order for me to complete this experiment, I will be needing to keep variables controlled such as: I have to keep
the same amount of water each experiment, I will have to ḱeep the same distance between the beaker and the
spirit burner and lastly, I have to keep the lid on after weighing the spirit burner in order not to release too much
energy because it will affect my experiment. I am able to control all variables needed.

B(iv) Methodology
Here is the materials I will be using:
- Beaker
- Thermometer
- Clamp stand
- Spirit burner
- Calculator
- Paper
- Pen
- Scale
- Measuring cylinder
Here are the steps I am using:
- I will be filling the beaker with 100 Ml of water. I will measure it with a measuring cylinder then pour it
into the beaker.
- I will put the clamp stand in a desired height and then put the beaker there.
- I will measure the water’s current temperature and add it to the chart.
- I will weigh the spirit burner and add it to the chart.
- I will then start burning the water with the spirit burner with the desired amount of time.
- When the time is up, I will measure the temperature once more and add it to my chart.
- I will then weigh the spirit burner once again on the scale.
- I will then add all the data and make the calculations in order to find the efficiency of the calorimeter
using a calculator and writing it into my chart.
- I will be repeating this six times with different amounts of times.
Note: in order to organize my data and make my calculations, I will be using the following chart: (each chart will
have its own independent variable)
In order for everyone to stay safe when the experiment takes place, there are some safety rules that I need to
follow due to the use of ethanol being a part of the experiment. Primarily, it is necessary to wear eye protection
throughout the whole experiment and try to minimize the smallest amounts of ethanol possible. It is also
recommended to make sure the room where ethanol is being used is well ventilated and have extinguishing
equipment ready throughout the entire experiment in case of emergencies. Lastly, you should not use naked
flames when using ethanol.

Works cited

Bullen, Kearsley. “Calorimetry - Measuring Energy Changes from Combustion -

Calorimetry - GCSE Chemistry (Single Science) Revision - BBC Bitesize.” BBC News,
BBC, 2021, https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/guides/znp4jxs/revision/2.

Capuano, Linda. “U.S. Energy Information Administration - EIA - Independent

Statistics and Analysis.” Ethanol and the Environment - U.S. Energy Information
Administration (EIA), 2020,
https://www.eia.gov/energyexplained/biofuels/ethanol-and-the-environment.php.

Unknown. “Student Safety Sheets 60 Ethanol - CLEAPSS Science Home.” Cleapss ,

2020, http://science.cleapss.org.uk/resource/SSS060-Ethanol.pdf.

C(i) presentation of data.

 Amount of tim 2 mins 2 mins 4 mins 6 mins 7 mins 8 mins
burnt: (EXP 1) (EXP 2)

Mass of ethano 0.629 g 0.690g 1.328g 1.829g 2.063g 2.332g

burnt

Energy given o 18,870 J 20,700 J 39,840 J 54,870 J 61,890 J 69,960 J

by the ethanol

Temperature 8°c 10°c 14°c 18°c 23°c 27°c

change of the
water

Energy that we 3,344 J 4,180 J 5,852 J 7,524 J 9,614 J 11,286 J

into the water

Energy lost 15,526 J 16,520 J 33,988 J 47,346 J 52,276 J 58,674 J

Efficiency of th 17.7% 20.1% 14.6% 13.7% 15.5% 16.1%

calorimeter

C(ii) Interpretation of data.

It is shown on the graph that the line of best fit goes down as my independent variable (time) increases
meaning the relationship between the time and the efficiency is that as the time increases in the graph, the
lower the efficiency will be. This directly leads to answering my research question which was: How does the
time affect the efficiency of the calorimeter? The answer taken from the results recorded from my experiment
is that the time affects the efficiency of the calorimeter by decreasing the efficiency as we increase the time we
are burning the ethanol. The line of best fit shows that when the time is increased, the efficiency lowers.
Therefore, there is a change to when we are looking at the points. Up until the middle, the efficiency does go
down, but the rest shows that the efficiency increases. In order to find out more about it, further data must be
collected although it is not possible at the moment.

This means that the relationship between the efficiency of the calorimeter and the time the ethanol is burned
leads to the increased time affecting the efficiency by decreasing it. This happened in my experiment because,
as the ethanol is being burned for longer, the energy being released increases, and the temperature of the water
is increasing even less, which means that, using the data to calculate the efficiency, will lower the efficiency of
the calorimeter. The line of best fit is linear due to the changement in efficiency of each experiment. The
average difference of each experiment is -4.23E-03*x + 0.18 which means that this number explains why the
line is linear.

C(iii) Discussion of the hypothesis related to the outcome.

In my planning, I had predicted that by increasing the time, it would affect the efficiency of the calorimeter by
increasing the efficiency of the calorimeter. Therefore, the results from the experiment prove that my
predictions were incorrect and that the results were the opposite of what I had predicted. As the time increases,
the efficiency of the calorimeter lowers and I predicted that as the time increases, the efficiency would increase
as well.

C(iv) Discussion of the methodology.

Throughout the experiment, I had followed my plan that was produced previously and did not make any
changes to the method I used. I followed exactly what was written on my plan and successfully completed what
I had planned. I managed to control the controlled variables to a decent degree, whereas I made all necessary
measurements to the most accurate possible, so I would prevent making mistakes in the experiment since it will
affect my data and results. The controlled variables led to how reliable and accurate my data was, and I think
the data released was the most accurate possible because the variables were carefully controlled and the results
made sense. Since I had the chance to process what I had planned, my thoughts were that the method I had
planned to use turned out to be extremely well designed because I had no problems or issues to solve when the
experiment was done.

C(v) Improvements or Extensions.

I think that this experiment turned out to be a success but improvements and/or extensions can always be
made. For example, this experiment took longer than I thought it would which left me behind but I was able to
catch up. I think that next time, I would plan more time for myself, in case I’m not sure how long it would
take. Although to an extent, if I would want to do the experiment again, I would find out approximately how
much the efficiency differs within a minute. I would like to test different times, meaning I will still be using
time as my independent variable in order to find out what percentage does the efficiency change per minute.

Works cited

Bullen, Kearsley. “Calorimetry - Measuring Energy Changes from Combustion -

Calorimetry - GCSE Chemistry (Single Science) Revision - BBC Bitesize.” BBC News,
BBC, 2021, https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/guides/znp4jxs/revision/2.