The experimental setup was disconnected and the brass slab was heated directly on the heating chamber until its temperature was about 5oC higher than the value recorded in the steady state. The heating chamber was removed and the brass slab was allowed to cool down while the sample was placed on it and the temperature readings were recorded at intervals 30 seconds until the temperature was about 5oC below the steady state. The procedure was repeated three times and the average temperature readings were determined.