Enhancing Precision in Mechanical Equivalent of Heat Measurement: A Dislab-Driven Computational-Experimental Approach for Education and Research

Traditional electrothermal methods for determining the mechanical equivalent of heat face challenges such as structural complexity, manual calibration inefficiencies, and significant errors caused by heat dissipation and system losses. This study introduces an optimized framework using the Digital Information System Laboratory (DISLab) to address these limitations through computational modeling, sensor automation, and a novel dual-voltage differential method. By replacing conventional temperature-based calorimetry with vaporization mass tracking, the redesigned system minimizes heat loss and simplifies parameter calibration. Key innovations include high-frequency sensor arrays (sampling rate: 1 kHz) for real-time synchronization of voltage, current, and mass measurements, and a dual-voltage strategy to compensate for fixed heat dissipation and electrical losses. Experimental results achieved a measured mechanical equivalent of heat of <tex xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">$\mathbf{4. 1 3 6 3}$</tex> joules per calorie, deviating by 1.2% from the standard value of 4.1868 joules per calorie. Further iterative optimization using multi-voltage adjustments refined the result to <tex xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">$\mathbf{4. 2 1 7 8}$</tex> joules per calorie, reducing the error to <tex xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">$\mathbf{0. 7 \%}$</tex>. Computational integration of Newtonian cooling corrections and automated data processing enhanced accuracy while serving as an educational tool: students using the DISLab system demonstrated a 40% improvement in understanding energy conservation principles compared to traditional methods. This work highlights the potential of DISLab methodologies in advancing precision thermodynamics and STEM education through scalable, userfriendly experimental design.