Lesson 5 of 8 · Thermodynamics
Experiment⭐ 30 XPInsulation and Rates of Cooling
Thermodynamics.
🎯 Your mission
Predict it first. Then prove yourself right (or wrong).
⚡ The twist
Nature loves to surprise the careful watcher.
Mind = Blown
🔬 The more you look, the more nature shows you.
Make a hypothesis first
Before you start: write down what you think will happen, and why.
What You'll Learn
The rate at which an object cools depends on the temperature difference with its surroundings, its surface area, and how well it is insulated. Trapped air is the key to most insulation, because still air conducts heat poorly.
Key Words
Tap a word to see its definition.
Materials Needed
- four identical cans
- bubble wrap
- newspaper
- aluminium foil
- thermometers
- stopwatch
Safety First
- Have an adult pour the hot water and use a tray to catch spills.
Steps
Read the explanation above and note the two key terms before you start.
Fill four identical cans with hot water, insulating them with bubble wrap, newspaper, foil and nothing. Record temperature every two minutes for twenty minutes and plot all four cooling curves on one axis.
Record what actually happened, including anything that did not match what you expected.
Write a conclusion that answers the question this lesson opened with, and state your uncertainty.
Check Your Understanding
Question 1
1 of 2An object cools fastest when the temperature difference with its surroundings is:
Where you see this in real life
This shows up in your everyday life more than you'd think.
Stretch Challenge
Try this in real life this week.
Try one experiment in real life this week — even a tiny one.
For the dinner table
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Insulation and Rates of Cooling
Predict it first. Then prove yourself right (or wrong).
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