Heat Inquiry

For my guided inquiry, I was able to observe all three forms of heat energy. However, in this guided inquiry lesson, I explored and tested conduction to determine which materials acted as a better insulator. The materials I tested were permeable and non permeable materials. I used tin foil, a paper towel, a cloth, and a plastic bag. The tin foil was the only non permeable material. I expected the tin foil to be the best insulator in comparison to the permeable materials.

This experiment used all three forms of heat energy.  Radiation was used to heat the water, the actual temperature readings involved conduction, and convection was experienced in between thermometer readings. The results amazed me. I decided to take temperature readings every 5 minutes. Although the lesson asked to take a temperature reading after 30 minutes, I wanted to see a collection of data over time so that I would have more results to compare. The tin foil was the best insulator. However, the results from the cloth amazed me. The cloth was the second best insulator at retaining heat loss. Shockingly, the plastic bag did worst than the paper towel. This was insightful to me because when I made my prediction, I felt that the paper towel would be the worst insulator. Over the course of my data, it was amazing to see how the tin foil continued to drop by 5 degrees each time. The cloth, the paper towel, and the plastic dropped by 10 degrees each time.

In the future, I’d like to test other non permeable materials to have a comparison to the tin foil.  Materials like glass, metal, and heavy plastics.  I feel that the metal and glass would act as the best insulators. This is because they would trap the heat unlike the permeable items that allow heat to escape through the material its self.

I’d like to test other food items to determine what materials should be used to keep food warm.  I’d like to also test other types of liquids.  Liquids like hot chocolate, tea, and coffee, since these are liquids we want to keep warm.  I feel that food items like meat would stay warm longer since it’s denser compared to vegetables, rice, or pasta.  The liquids, I’m not sure which would stay warm the longest.  That’s a tough call.  I’d predict the hot chocolate since it is denser than tea and coffee. 

For students in my classroom, I’d give them various types of materials to test for heat retention.  I’d use a Styrofoam cup, a plastic cup, a ceramic cup, and a metal cup.  I’d have students test using a thermometer which cup heats up the fastest.  Then I’d have them test to see which material retains heat the best.  I’d heat the water and have students take initial temperature readings with the 4 cups.  I’d have students take several readings to see which cup stays hotter longer.  Than I’d have them place these cups in another cup with ice and take readings.  This will help them determine which materials are conductors and which are insulators. To make it relevant to the student’s lives, I’d have the students create a product based on their findings that will transport food. They’d have to create a cooler that serves as a dual purpose.  They have to be able to keep food cool and heat food up. The purpose of learning this lesson would be to help students determine what materials act like good insulators and conductors.  As well as arrive at what is the function of an insulator and conductor. I feel that since I achieved this with my own inquiry lesson that the students would also.