ABSTRACT
An experiment was conducted using a mercury-in-glass thermometer secured at its end and held in a horizontal position by a clamp attached to a ring stand. A blow dryer was used to heat the thermometer to an initial temperature of slightly over 60°C by blowing air directly onto the thermometer bulb. After the heating stopped, experimental temperatures and corresponding times were recorded.
A computer modeling program was then used to predict the temperature versus time profile for the experiment. Natural convection and radiation without forced convection was modeled first and compared to the experimental data. The mathematical model predicted very slow cooling relative to the experimental data. Forced convection was then included in the model, with the value of the forced convection heat transfer coefficient varied in order to best fit the experimental data. A statistical analysis was used to determine the best forced convection heat transfer coefficient by minimizing standard deviation between the model and the experimental data. The best fit forced convection heat transfer coefficient was determined to be 18 W/m2 K.
