When learning about the First Law of Thermodynamics, which is also called the law of conservation of energy, students can do some fun hands-on experiments. This law tells us that energy can’t be created or destroyed; it can only change from one form to another. Here are some cool ways students can see this idea in action through simple physics experiments:

1. Calorimetry Experiment

• Goal: Measure how heat moves during a chemical reaction.

• Things You Need: A calorimeter (you can use an insulated container), water, a thermometer, and some substances like baking soda and vinegar.

• Steps:

  • First, measure the starting temperature of the water.
  • Next, mix the baking soda and vinegar together and watch the final temperature change.
  • You can then find out how much energy changed using this formula:

  $Q = mc\Delta T$

  Here,

  • $Q$ is the heat energy,
  • $m$ is the weight of the water,
  • $c$ represents how much heat the water can hold,
  • and $\Delta T$ is the temperature change.

2. Mechanical Energy Conservation

• Goal: Show how potential energy changes into kinetic energy.
• Things You Need: A ramp, a marble or a small ball, and a ruler.
• Steps:
  • Measure how high the ramp is, then let the marble go from the top.
  • When it reaches the bottom, measure its speed.
  • You can calculate the starting potential energy ($PE = mgh$) and the kinetic energy ($KE = \frac{1}{2}mv^2$).
  • Compare the two amounts to see that energy is conserved.

3. Heating Water with a Resistor

• Goal: Look at how electrical energy turns into heat.
• Things You Need: A resistor, a power supply, water, and a thermometer.
• Steps:
  • Put the resistor into the water and turn on the power.
  • Measure how much the water's temperature goes up.
  • You can then compare how much energy goes into the resistor with how much energy the water absorbs, which shows the First Law of Thermodynamics.

These experiments are a great way to understand the theory, and they make learning about thermodynamics fun and engaging for students!