small lab jack with attached pink insulating foam.
Insulated Cups with Holes for the Copper Sheet
Aluminum Plate with Attached Postcard Liquid Crystal, and Two Beaker

 

Code Number: 4B30.53

Demo Title: Heat Transfer - Liquid Crystal Indicator

Condition: Good

Principle: Conductivity

Area of Study: Thermodynamics

Equipment: 

Copper Sheet with Attached Liquid Crystal Film, Insulated Cups with Holes for the Copper Sheet, Aluminum Plate with Attached Postcard Liquid Crystal, and Two Beaker, hot plate with aluminum top, small lab jack with attached pink insulating foam.

Procedure:

Turn up the hot plate with the aluminum top to 225 on the heat dial setting.  Place the pink insulating foam on top of the small lab jack and raise it until it is level with the top of the hot plate.  Place the liquid crystal apparatus so that one end is on the hot plate and the rest is laying on the insulated foam.  You should see the colors travel from the hot end of the apparatus to the cool end of the apparatus.  This will take several minutes for maximum color travel.

Put cold water in one beaker and hot water in the other.  Insert the apparatus and observe the heat conduction from hot to cold with the liquid crystal.  This method works but is not the best as the length of the liquid crystal apparatus allows the air to cool the apparatus before the colors at the heated end travels very far to the cold end.

References:

  • M. P. Strzys, S. Kapp, M. Thees, J. Kuhn, P. Lukowicz, P. Knierim, and A. Schmidt, "Augmenting the Thermal Flux Experiment: A Mixed Reality Approach with the HoloLens", TPT, Vol. 55, #6, Sept. 2017, p. 376. 
  • R. D. Edge, "Thermal Conductivity and Liquid Crystal Thermometers", TPT, Vol. 31, #7, Oct. 1993, p. 412.
  • Michael E. Bacon, R. M. WIck, and P. Hecking, "Heat, Light, and Videotapes: Experiments in Heat Conduction Using Liquid Crystal Film", AJP, Vol. 63, #4, Apr. 1995, p. 359.
  • Brian W. Dodson, Thomas L. Hunzeker, "A Quantitative Demonstration of Conductive Heat Transfer", AJP, Vol. 41, #2, Feb. 1973, p. 281
  •  Ashley G. Smart. "Laser Beam Remodels Liquid Crystals on the Fly", Physics Today, Vol. 68, #6, June 2015, p. 12.
  •  "H-395. Liquid Crystal - Hammer Blow", DICK and RAE Physics Demo Notebook, 1993.
  •  Robert Ehrlich, "I.7. Heat Conductivity Demonstration Using Thermostrips", Turning the World Inside Out and 174 Other Simple Physics Demonstrations, p. 119 - 120.
4B30.53 - Heat Transfer - Liquid Crystal Indicator

 

4B30.53 - Heat Transfer - Liquid Crystal Indicator