Determination of Object Temperature Influenced by Ambient Temperature as a Solution of Newton’s Law of Cooling or Heating Rates

Thermal physics experiments often require accurate data about the thermal condition of the observed object so that its temperature should be measured. The object temperature, which is observed directly using a measuring instrument, does not represent its actual thermal condition because there is an influence of the object temperature and the ambient temperature differences, especially if the object is not in adiabatic isolation. Newton’s Law on cooling or heating rate is used to determine the actual object temperature if the ambient influence is eliminated. The method used in this research is matching analyses between mathematical solutions and empirical data. In thermal physics experiments in laboratories, particularly in the Basic Physics Laboratory, the influence of ambient temperature-known as Newton Correction-often uses a linear temperature-change approach to time. Thus, an analysis of the differential equation model of Newton’s Law of cooling and heating rates is carried out. The result shows that the objects temperature function over time is in the form of an exponential function, both for a constant ambient temperature, and an ambient temperature that changes over time. The result of this analysis is also in line with the experimental data of the Mechanical Heat Equivalence experiment conducted in the Basic Physics Laboratory of Bandung State Polytechnic.