Stefan Botlzmann’s Constant

Experimental Analysis Lab

Date: 14th september, 2021

Name: Vuppugalla Shashank

Hall ticket no: 19XJ1A0366

 Introduction
Thermal radiation is a type of heat transfer, heat is radiated and absorbed by all bodies. It does
not require any medium to propagate since it is in the form of an electromagnetic wave. In this
experiment we find Stefan Boltzmann's constant based on Stefan Boltzmann's law of radiation
for the heat transfer of black body radiation.
Stefan Boltzmann law:
The thermal radiation heat flux or emissive power of a black surface is proportional to the fourth
power of absolute temperature of a surface.
Q
=  σ T 4 (W/m^2)
A
The constant proportionality is called Stefan Boltzmann’s constant which has a value of
5.67x10^-8 (W/m^2-k^4).

Thermal Radiation as input is provided to the black body by hot water in a water jacket.

Radiation energy falling on the black disc from the enclosure

E =  σADT 4 (W)
The Radiation energy of black disc is emitting into the enclosure

E1 =  σADTD4 (W)
The net input radiation to the black disc per unit time

E − E1 =  σAD(T 4 − TD4 )  

For mass m, specific heat s and time t = 0

ms(dT/dt)t=0 =  σAD(T 4 − TD4 )   

The constant is given by,
ms(dT/dt)t=0
σ = 
AD(T 4 − TD4 )   
The experiment was performed three times when the water was heated to
5, 50 and 55 degrees Celsius. Stir the water heater from time to time to make sure the water heats
up evenly as it has a high specific heat. After the water is heated, it is allowed to enter the water
jacket and let it sit. Stability test by measuring the change in water temperature per minute.
When the temperature variation is negligible, the black disk is placed in the homogeneous
hemisphere. The temperature of the plate is measured every 5 seconds, this is done for 30
seconds
Experimental setup

 The flanged copper hemisphere is fixed on a flat non-conductive plate, the copper hemisphere is
surrounded by a water jacket, the water jacket is connected to the heater, and the heater is
connected to the controller. The water jacket is also connected to a pipe to drain the water. There
are three thermocouples connected to the water heater, the water jacket, and the black disc.
Raw data
Test disc dia, d = 20 mm = 20x10^-3 m
Mass of test disc, m = 5.1 gm = 5.1x10^-3 kg
Specific heat of the disc, s = 418 J/kg-C
π 2
Area of the disc, a = d = 3.14x10^-3 m^2
4
Stable temperature of water jacket @ 45 SV = 46.1 degrees Celsius
Stable temperature of water jacket @ 50 SV = 52.1 degrees Celsius
Stable temperature of water jacket @ 55 SV = 56.2 degrees Celsius

Calculation Tables:

Time t (sec) temperature Td (C)

5 30.5
10 30.6
15 30.6
20 30.6
25 30.7
30 30.8

Table 1: For set value of 45 degrees Celsius, temperature readings of the black disc every 5 seconds

30.8
y = 0.0514x + 30.453

30.7
temperature (C)

30.6

30.5

30.4
5 10 15 20 25 30
Time (sec)

Figure 1: plot of the table 1

From this dT/dt = 0.0514 (C/Sec)

 T 4 − Td4 = 1883625331  k ^4
σ =  1.852 x 10^-7 (W/m^2-k^4).
Time t (sec) temperature Td (C)
5 30.8
10 31
15 31
20 31
25 31.2
30 31.3

Table 2: For the set value of 50 degrees Celsius, The temperature readings of the black disc every 5
seconds

31.3
y = 0.0886x + 30.74

31.2
temperature (C)

31

30.9

30.7
5 10 15 20 25 30
Time (sec)

Figure 2: plot of table 2

From this dT/dt = 0.0886 (C/Sec)

T 4 − Td4 = 2652114559  k ^4
σ =  2.269 x 10^-8 (W/m^2-k^4).

Time t (sec) temperature Td (C)

5 30.8
10 31
15 31
20 31
25 31.2
30 31.3

 Table 3: For the set value of 55 degrees Celsius, The temperature readings of the black disc every 5
seconds

31.3
y = 0.0886x + 30.74

31.2
temperature (C)

31

30.9

30.7
5 10 15 20 25 30
me (sec)

Figure 3: plot of table 3

From this dT/dt = 0.0886 (C/Sec)

T 4 − Td4 = 2652114559  k ^4
σ =  4.5824 x 10^-8 (W/m^2-k^4).

Discussions

The longer the black disc stays on the non-conducting plate the more there is possibility of error
due to conduction of heat . We assumed that the disc is a perfectly black body which actually has
an emissivity one but in reality or laboratory which is not possible so there might be an error in
the calculated value and other losses like heat distribution in water may not be proper these are
the few reasons that might get an error in the calculating Stephen Boltzmann constant.
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