The english School

Gabriel Luque
000185-060

OBTAINING THE POWER FROM A BUNSEN BURNER

Data Collection
First

x
Time
(s)

Start:
411.63g
End: 410.7g

y
Temp
(C)

0
30
60
90
120
150
180
210

0
3
7
11
15
19
23
27

240

31

Time
Temp error
error (s)
(C)
0,2
0,2
0,2
0,2
0,2
0,2
0,2
0,2
0,2

%error time

%error temp

#DIV/0!
0,666666667
0,333333333
0,222222222
0,166666667
0,133333333
0,111111111
0,095238095

#DIV/0!
33,33333333
14,28571429
9,090909091
6,666666667
5,263157895
4,347826087
3,703703704

Mass
error (g)
0,01
0,01
0,01
0,01
0,01
0,01
0,01
0,01

1 0,083333333 3,225806452

0,01

1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1

35
30

normal
y = 0,1275x

Temperature

25
20

min gradient
y = 0,1206x + 1,0241

15
10

max gradient
y = 0,1377x - 1,0275

5
0
-50

50

-5

P=220.43W17.64W

100

150

Time (s)

200

250

300

The english School

Gabriel Luque
000185-060

Second

x
y
Time Temp
Time
Temp error
(s)
(C)
error (s)
(C)
0
0
0,2
30
2
0,2
60
5,5
0,2
90
9,5
0,2
120
13,5
0,2
150
18
0,2
180
22
0,2
210
27
0,2

Start:
414.1g
End:
413.47g

240

31

0,2

%error time

%error temp

#DIV/0!
0,666666667
0,333333333
0,222222222
0,166666667
0,133333333
0,111111111
0,095238095

#DIV/0!
50
18,18181818
10,52631579
7,407407407
5,555555556
4,545454545
3,703703704

Mass
error (g)
0,01
0,01
0,01
0,01
0,01
0,01
0,01
0,01

1 0,083333333 3,225806452

0,01

1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1

35
30
normal
y = 0,1233x

Temperature

25
20

Min gradiennt

15

y = 0,1206x + 1,0241
10
Max gradient
5

y = 0,1377x - 1,0275

0
-50

0
-5

P=214.45W25.05W

50

100

150

Time (s)

200

250

300

The english School

Gabriel Luque
000185-060

Third

x
y
Time Temp
Time
Temp error
(s)
(C)
error (s)
(C)
0
0
0,2
30
3
0,2
60
7
0,2
90
11
0,2
120
16
0,2
150
20
0,2
180
24
0,2
210
27,5
0,2

Start:
414,32g
End: 413.49

240

31,5

0,2

%error time

%error temp

#DIV/0!
0,666666667
0,333333333
0,222222222
0,166666667
0,133333333
0,111111111
0,095238095

#DIV/0!
33,33333333
14,28571429
9,090909091
6,25
5
4,166666667
3,636363636

Mass
error (g)
0,01
0,01
0,01
0,01
0,01
0,01
0,01
0,01

1 0,083333333 3,174603175

0,01

1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1

35
Normal
y = 0,1311x

30

Temperature

25
Max gradient

20

y = 0,1398x - 1,028
15
min gradient

10

y = 0,1227x + 1,0245
5
0
-50

0
-5

P=228.1W15.17W

50

100
Time (s)

150

200

250

300

The english School

Gabriel Luque
000185-060

Conclusion
For this experiment we wanted to calculate the power of a Bunsen burner. For this we
made three different trials with similar water masses in order to calculate the power. The
experiment consisted in heating a mass of water with a bunsen burner, recording every 30
seconds how much the water temperature had changed. We had to stir the water with a
glass stick in order to balance the heat all over the water, to make it a fair test.
Its possible to know the errors of time, mass and temperature by the apparatus used, and
with the formula of

. The errors we find were for temperature 0.5, but as

we used a change in temperature, the errors are added, giving and error of 1C. For the
mass, we simply took the error of the digital weight; 0.01g. And finally for time we used
the ruler test in order to find displacement, and using the formula we find the time error.
After we finished the experiment we used the formula of energy which states that
being Q energy, m mass, c latent heat of water and T temperature. When the
formula is rearranged and knowing that

, the formula ends like this

and from the graphs made with the data collected, we could calculate the
gradient and so finding power. We ended up with three results; 220.43W17.64W,
214.45W25.05W and 228.1W15.17W. For each of these results we obtained an
uncertainty of 8%, 11.7%, and 6.7%, respectively, which is almost nothing, so its possible
to trust our results. As the errors are so small, compared to the actual results, the
maximum and minimum gradient graphs wont differ that much, giving us a more accurate
result. The difference between the results were not big, the biggest was about 14W
(between the second and third trial), which means that our results were very accurate.
We measured the mass of the water before and after heating it, and we found out that it
had lower its value; this can be explained by the evaporation due to the heat. We found
out that the percentage mass lost was around 0.25%, so it almost didnt change, although
its possible to understand that this could increase as time passes and as power increases.
This error can be reduced with different methods, which are going to be explained in the
evaluation.

The english School

Gabriel Luque
000185-060

In conclusion its possible to state that the experiment was successful, because we didnt
have any big errors, and we were able to measure the actual power of the Bunsen burner.
After everything said above, the experiment was very accurate, and was done with
appropriate procedure.

Evaluation
Limitations
Total mass

Timing error

Evaporation of water

Mass measured

Beaker temperature

Bunsen burner aperture

Effect
We didnt realize that we
should measure the mass of
the beaker before putting
water in it, so the mass of
the experiment is not totally
accurate
The reaction time of a
person is not exact, so the
person
watching
the
temperature would not
always measure it on time,
this will make the final
result differ as the graph will
change.
As water evaporates due to
temperature, the mass will
change and so the result.
The masses were not always
the same, so there was not
always the same amount of
water, this could change the
final power value.
The beaker needs to be
cooled down before the
next trial; otherwise the
temperature will increase
for the next trial.
If the aperture of the
Bunsen burner is changed
between trials, the power
will change to a lower or
grater one.

Improvement
Measure the weight of the
beaker before, so you can
subtract it from the final
mass.

Making more trials or trials

for longer periods may
reduce the error.

This can be improved by

changing the temperature,
the humidity or the surface
area.
Reducing the mass
differences by establishing
one and using it always.

Use different beakers for

each trial, or cooling down
the beaker with cold water,
then throwing that water
away.
Make sure the Bunsen
burner is not touched within
trials, so this aperture is not
changed.

The english School

Gabriel Luque
000185-060