Experiment

Energy Content of Foods

10

Energy content is an important property of food. The energy your body needs for running, talking,
and thinking comes from the food you eat. Energy content is the amount of heat produced by the
burning of 1 gram of a substance, and is measured in joules per gram (J/g).
You can determine energy content by burning a portion of food and capturing the heat released to
a known mass of water in a calorimeter. If you measure the initial and final temperatures, the
energy released can be calculated using the equation
H = tmCp
where H = heat energy absorbed (in J), t = change in temperature (in C), m = mass (in g), and
Cp = specific heat capacity (4.18 J/gC for water). Dividing the resulting energy value by grams of
food burned gives the energy content (in J/g).

OBJECTIVES
In this experiment, you will
use a TI Graphing Calculator, a LabPro or CBL 2 interface, and a Temperature Probe to
measure temperature
use a balance
determine energy content
compare the energy content of different foods

MATERIALS
LabProorCBL2interface
TIGraphingCalculator
DataMateprogram
TemperatureProbe
2foodsamples(nut,popcorn,or
marshmallow)
ringstandand10cm(4")ring
100mLgraduatedcylinder

balance
smallcan
2stirringrods
slitstopper
coldwater
foodholder
matches
woodensplint

1.

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Experiment10
Figure 1

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EnergyContentofFoods

PROCEDURE
1. Obtain and wear goggles.
2. Plug the Temperature Probe into Channel 1 of the LabPro or CBL 2 interface. Use the link
cable to connect the TI Graphing Calculator to the interface. Firmly press in the cable ends.
3. Turn on the calculator and start the DATAMATE program. Press

CLEAR

to reset the program.

4. Set up the calculator and interface for the Temperature Probe.

a. Select SETUP from the main screen.
b. If the calculator displays a Temperature Probe in CH 1, proceed directly to Step 5. If it does
not, continue with this step to set up your sensor manually.
c. Press ENTER to select CH 1.
d. Select TEMPERATURE from the SELECT SENSOR menu.
e. Select the Temperature Probe you are using (in C) from the TEMPERATURE menu.
5. Set up the data-collection mode.
f.
g.
h.
i.
j.

To select MODE, press

once and press ENTER .
Select TIME GRAPH from the SELECT MODE menu.
Select CHANGE TIME SETTINGS from the TIME GRAPH SETTINGS menu.
Enter 5 as the time between samples in seconds.
Enter 96 as the number of samples. The length of the data collection will be
8 minutes.
k. Select OK to return to the setup screen.
l. Select OK again to return to the main screen.
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6. Get a sample of food and a food holder like the one shown in Figure 1. Find and record the
initial mass of the food and food holder.
7. Set up the apparatus shown in Figure 1.
m. Determine and record the mass of the empty can.
n. Place about 50 mL of cold water into the can.
o. Determine and record the mass of the can plus water.
p. Use a 10-cm ring and stirring rod to suspend the can about 5 cm above the candle or lamp.
q. Use a utility clamp and slit stopper to suspend the Temperature Probe in the water. The
probe should not touch the bottom of the can.
8. Select START on the calculator to begin collecting data. Remember: The Temperature Probe
must be in the water for at least 30 seconds before you begin! Monitor temperature (in C) on
the calculator screen for about 30 seconds and record the initial temperature of the water in
your data table.
9. Remove the food sample from under the can and use a wooden splint to light it. Quickly place
the burning food sample directly under the center of the can. Allow the water to be heated
until the food sample stops burning. CAUTION: Keep hair and clothing away from an open
flame.

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Experiment10
10. Stir the water until the temperature stops rising. Record this final temperature (round to the
nearest 0.1C). Data collection will stop after 8 minutes (or press the
key to stop
before 8 minutes has elapsed).
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11. Determine the final mass of the food sample and food holder.
12. A graph of temperature vs. time will be displayed. As you move the cursor right or left, the
time (X) and temperature (Y) values of each data point are displayed below the graph.
Confirm the initial and maximum values you recorded earlier.
13. Press
to return to the main screen and repeat the procedure using a second food
sample. Use a new 50-mL portion of cold water.
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14. When you are done, place burned food, used matches, and partly burned wooden splints in the
container supplied by the teacher.

DATA
Foodused
Massoffoodandholder(initial)
Massoffoodandholder(final)
Massofemptycan
Massofcanpluswater
Initialwatertemperature
Finalwatertemperature

Sample1
_______
______g
______g
______g
______g
______C
______C

Sample2
_______
______g
______g
______g
______g
______C
______C

PROCESSING THE DATA

1. Calculate change in water temperature, t, for each sample, by subtracting the initial
temperature from the final temperature (t = tfinal tinitial ).

2. Calculate the mass (in g) of the water heated for each sample. Subtract the mass of the empty
can from the mass of the can plus water.

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EnergyContentofFoods
3. Use the results of Problems 1 and 2 to determine the heat energy gained by the water (in J).
Use the equation
H = tmCp
where H = heat absorbed (in J), t = change in temperature (in C), m = mass of the water
heated (in g), and Cp = specific heat capacity (4.18 J/gC for water).

4. Calculate the mass (in g) of each food sample burned. Subtract the final mass from the initial
mass.

5. Use the results of Problems 3 and 4 to calculate the energy content (in J/g) of each food
sample.

6. Record your results and the results of other groups below.

Class Results

FoodType
____________
_________J/g
_________J/g
_________J/g
_________J/g
_________J/g
_________J/g
Avg._________J/g

FoodType
____________
_________J/g
_________J/g
_________J/g
_________J/g
_________J/g
_________J/g
_________J/g

FoodType
____________
_________J/g
_________J/g
_________J/g
_________J/g
_________J/g
_________J/g
_________J/g

FoodType
____________
_________J/g
_________J/g
_________J/g
_________J/g
_________J/g
_________J/g
_________J/g

7. Which of the foods has the greatest energy content?

EXTENSION
1. Determine the energy content of other combustible foods.

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