Investigating IR Radiation (Cambridge (CIE) IGCSE Physics): Revision Note

Investigating thermal radiation

Extended Tier Only

Aims of the experiment

• The aim of the experiment is to investigate how the amount of infrared radiation (opens in a new tab) absorbed or radiated by a surface depends on the nature of that surface

Variables

• Independent variable = Surface colour and texture

• Dependent variable = Temperature

• Control variables:

  • Identical flasks (except for their colour)

  • Same amounts of hot water

  • Same starting temperature of the water

  • Same time interval

  • Same room temperature

Equipment

Equipment List

• Resolution of measuring equipment:

  • Thermometer = 1 °C

  • Stopwatch = 0.01 s

Method

Apparatus for the cooling experiment

1. Set up the four identical flasks painted in different colours: black, dull grey, white and silver

2. Fill each flask with the same volume of hot water, ensuring the measurements start from the same initial temperature

3. Note the starting temperature, then measure the temperatures at regular intervals, e.g. every 30 seconds for 10 minutes

4. The flask whose temperature falls fastest has the surface that is the best emitter

Results

Example results table

An example of a suitable results table for the cooling experiment

Analysis of results

• All objects emit infrared radiation, but the hotter an object is, the more infrared waves are emitted 

• The rate of emission of radiation depends on:

  • The temperature of the body (hotter objects emit more thermal radiation)

  • The surface area of the body (a larger surface area allows more radiation to be emitted)

  • The colour of the surface

• Most of the energy lost from the flasks will be by heating due to conduction and convection

  • This will be equal for each flask, as colour does not affect energy transferred by conduction and convection 

• Any difference in energy transferred away from each flask must, therefore, be due to infrared radiation

• To compare the rate of energy transfer away from each flask, plot a graph of temperature on the y-axis against time on the x-axis and draw curves of best fit

• The expected results are shown on the graph below:

desk and

Evaluating the experiments

• Systematic Errors:

  • Make sure the hole for the thermometer is not too big; otherwise, thermal energy will escape through the hole

  • Read the values on the thermometer at eye level to avoid parallax error

  • Use a data logger connected to a digital thermometer to get more accurate readings

• Random Errors:

  • Take repeated readings for each coloured flask

  • Doing this experiment in pairs to coordinate starting the stopwatch and immersing the thermometer can lead to a random timing error

Safety considerations

• Safety goggles should be worn when filling the flasks with boiling water

• Keep water away from all electrical equipment

• Make sure not to touch the hot water directly

  • Run any burns immediately under cold running water for at least 5 minutes

• Do not overfill the kettle

• Make sure all the equipment is in the middle of the desk, and not at the end to avoid knocking over the flasks

• Carry out the experiments only whilst standing in order to react quickly to any spills or burns