calorimeter(noun)

a measuring instrument that determines quantities of heat

calorimeter(Noun)

An apparatus for measuring the heat generated or absorbed by either a chemical reaction, change of phase or some other physical change.

Calorimeter(noun)

an apparatus for measuring the amount of heat contained in bodies or developed by some mechanical or chemical process, as friction, chemical combination, combustion, etc

Calorimeter(noun)

an apparatus for measuring the proportion of unevaporated water contained in steam

Calorimeter

An apparatus for measuring the quantity of heat evolved or produced by or under different conditions. Dulong's water calorimeter consists of a water jacket, and by the increase of temperature of the water and enclosing vessels the amount of heat produced by anything in the inner vessels is determined. The amount of ice a heated body will melt is sometimes made the basis of a calorimeter. The expansion of a fluid, as water, may be used. In the calorimeter shown in the cut the heat produced in a conductor by the passage of an electric current is caused to heat water whose temperature is shown by a thermometer immersed therein. The increase of temperature and the weight of the water give the basis for a determination of the heat produced by the current. Knowing the resistance of the conductor immersed, the watts can be calculated. This gives the bases for the determination of the heat-equivalent of electric energy. This is but an imperfect calorimeter, as it constantly would lose heat by the surrounding atmosphere, and would cease to operate as a calorimeter when the water was as hot as the wire normally would be, for then it would not absorb all the heat. Fig. 75. CALORIMETER.