Question:

Can a hot plate/Bunsen burner keep a constant temperature?

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I need to design an experiment to do with measuring temperature of water in a beaker, and I need to use four different temperatures, but I don't know how to keep the temperature in the water constant! Can you do this with a hot plate?

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  1. The simplest is to use a 'double boiler' setup so you can use the thermal mass of a large volume of water to keep the temperature relatively constant.  For more accuracy, you could use thermostatic feedback to let the temperature of the outer water bath control the height of the bunsen burner flame or the output of the hot plate.  You could do this manually by watching the temperature and adjusting the flame or hot plate.


  2. Place the beaker of water on a hot plate and set it to a given position of the temperature controller (if it has one) and observe the water temperature over a reasonable time period (after the water comes to temperature) using a scientific thermometer.  That will let you know whether the temperature cycles.

    Some hot plates are either on or off and others may use a thermostat to turn the plate on or off as needed to regulate temperature within a band.  Still other hot plates may have settings that controll constant electrical current at different set points and may remain steady.

    If the hotplate you use cycles you may try a double boiler (experiment within the inner pot or beaker) to minimize effects of any cycling.  Improvise your own 'double boiler.'

    You could also try a double boiler on a Bunsen burner adjusting the flame to control temperature in the outer pot.

  3. For bunsen burner it is a big no.

    To keep a constant temperature, youcan heat the water until it reaches the required temperature, you remove it for some seconds and heat it again. Or perhaps you can use a waterbath.

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