Energy Content of Food

In this unit you will gain some experience

with 2 types of calorimeters and the

PSL equipment.

Lab Directions

We will be doing 3 different labs involving our PSL equipment.

Temperature probes

Our first lab will be an orientation lab working with the PSL equipment and their temperature probes, learning how to calibrate them and take readings.

We will also practice importing our data into Excel and graph our results.

A CalorieA calorie is defined in the metric

system as follows:

A calorie is the amount of energy required to raise 1 gram of water 1

degree Celsius.

Click on the food to go to a

calorie calculator.

CalorimetersA calorimeter is a device used to measure

the amount of heat gained or lost in an object.

There are 2 types of calorimeters.

1. One type is used to determine heat exchange.

2. The other is used to determine heat generated by chemical breakdown or digestion.

Lab #2 Heat Exchange

Our second lab deals with calculating the heat loss of a warm object put into cold water.We will track the temperature change and graph our results.We will also calculate the heat lost by our metal object by calculating our heat gained by our cold water.

A Heat Exchange Calorimeter

Thermometer

masswater

insulation

cup

Download Lab #2 by clicking the link below.

Lab #3 Energy Content of Food

In this lab the students will burn a pecan. The heat generated by the pecan will be used to heat some cold water.The amount of energy given off by the pecan is absorbed by the cold water.The students will calculate the energy lost by calculating energy gained by the cold water.

A Food Burning Calorimeter

thermometer t.t. clamps

flask soup can

air hole air hole

Pecan or nut

Lab #3