Experimenting With Heat

In my experiment I used Styrofoam, a Ziploc bag (plastic), paper towel, and paper bag to test their effectiveness of insulating heat given off by hot water.   I hypothesized that the Styrofoam would be the best insulator because of how solid it was a material.  Hence, its molecules would be closer and based on my own experience with Styrofoam it does a good job of keeping hot food and liquids warm for a longer period of time than other materials. I chose the other materials because they were conveniently in my house and seem to have varying qualities, for the most part that I believed would give a range of temperatures.  The results of my experiment were as follows: water covered with Styrofoam was 45.6 degrees Celsius, water covered with Ziploc bag was 44 degrees Celsius, water covered with a paper tower was 41 degrees Celsius, and the water covered with a piece of paper bag was 44 degrees Celsius.  Overall, the Styrofoam was the best insulator out of the other materials, but the Ziploc bag and the paper bag maintained the same temperatures which was only 1.6 degree less than the Styrofoam.

I would make this experiment for engaging and fun by first presenting to them my data and having them make hypotheses as to which material matches with each temperature and why.  After they made their hypotheses then I would give them the materials and have them perform their own test to see which results are consistent with what I presented to them.  After which I would have my students choose two other materials like, cotton balls, wood, bubble wrap, foil, cardboard, or copper.  I would then relate the lesson to real-life ideas by either showing students objects, such as a pot, water, or pictures of objects similar to meteors falling from space or earth and having students brainstorm how each picture or object is related to heat transfer, as well as how they are related to our lives each day.  Students would then receives cards with different scenarios related to the picture or objects shown in class and students much match the appropriate card with the correct picture or object. This activity leads to discussion about how our very existence is related to how heat is transferred and natural insulators, as well as conductors that exist on earth.