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calorimeter

1 of 1noun
/ˌkæləˈrɪmɪtər/
Forms:calorimeters
1

a device used to measure the heat released or absorbed during a chemical reaction or physical change, typically by measuring temperature changes in a surrounding medium

  • Chemists use a calorimeter to determine the heat of combustion of a substance by measuring the temperature change in water surrounding a reaction vessel.
  • Food scientists employ a calorimeter to measure the caloric content of food items by burning them and measuring the resulting heat.
  • Physicists utilize calorimeters in particle detectors to measure the energy of particles produced in high-energy collisions.
  • Environmental scientists use calorimeters to study the heat absorption and release of materials in the environment, aiding in climate research.
  • Biologists use calorimeters to measure the metabolic rate of organisms by monitoring heat production during various activities.