EXPERIMENT # 2: INSULATION PROJECT

To design an insulated container that can keep exactly 200 mL of boiling water (100 °C) from cooling down. The objective will be to keep the water the hottest over a specified time frame of 22 minutes using non-commercial materials as insulation.

Do what ever is necessary to help you design the best container. You may use the library, internet, or the advice of" experts" but you must design and construct the insulator yourself.

The best type of insulator will be constructed with

1.Your group must supply the insulating materials.

Sawdust, sand, soil, glass, feathers, steel wool, aluminum foil, cotton batton, newspaper, water, cloth, yarn, etc.

The above listed materials are suggestions only ! It is not necessary to use any of them. The insulating materials must be approved in advance by your teacher. You are not permitted to use any preheated material (eg. hot water) or any system involving electrical heating. You may not use any commercial insulation material such as expanding spray foam, styrofoam, or fibreglass.

2.The container will be a 4 litre ice cream pail without its lid and into which is placed a 250 millilitre beaker.

a.The 250 mL beaker will be taped to the bottom centre of the ice cream pail.

b.The space between the beaker and the ice cream pail may be filled with any combination of your chosen insulation materials.

c.The top cover may also be constructed of any combination of your chosen insulation materials but may not extend beyond the top of the ice cream pail. It must also prevent any insulation material from falling into the water in the beaker during the experiment.

d.The top cover may have openings through which the boiling water is poured into the container and air can escape from the container to make space for the boiling water. These openings may be closed once the water has been poured in. Alternatively the top cover may be temporarily removed and quickly replaced once the boiling water is poured in.

e.The top cover must have a hole big enough to easily fit a thermometer.

3.The following apparatus and materials will be supplied.

Thermometer, ring clamp, ring stand, hot plate, safety goggles, beaker to heat water, graduated cylinder, water.

a.If one partner is absent or forgets to bring some part of the insulation materials TOO BAD ! You must deal with any such problems and should have made alternate back-up plans in advance. You should contact your partner the night before to remind each other of your responsibilities!

b.Assemble your apparatus for the actual experiment. You will be given an opportunity to assemble your apparatus, practice pouring hot water, and reading the thermometer during a class period before the day of actual experiment.

c.Using a hot plate heat 210 mL of water in a beaker to boiling (100 °C). The extra 10 mL is to allow for evaporation during heating.

d.When ready pour the 200 mL of boiling water into your insulated container, quickly put the top cover in place, and immediately record the initial temperature in your data table.

e.In your data table record for the next 22 minutes the temperature every 2 minutes.

f.A person from another group must verify each of your temperature readings.

g.One partner in your group must verify another group's temperature readings.

h.A rough copy of the data table must be handed in to the teacher at the end of the period!

The formal laboratory report must include:

1.A formal properly labelled scientific diagram of a cross-section of the container and its insulation materials as per Science Policy Page A8.

2.A completed properly titled and formatted "Data Table" as per Science Policy Page A9.

3.A properly formatted Graph of the Data Table measurements as per the Science Policy Page A8.

DISCUSSION: Answer the following questions in complete sentences:

1.Did the temperature of the water decrease at approximately a steady rate at all times? How from the line on your graph can you tell?

2.What materials or other qualities made your container a good insulator?

3.If you could repeat the experiment what improvements or changes would you make ? Why would you make these changes ?

CONCLUSION: Answer the following questions in complete sentences:

1.What kind of materials make a good insulator? (You will be given the opportunity to compare your results to those of other groups to decide)

2.What kind of materials and containers make the very best insulators?

(Again compare your results to those of other groups to decide)

SOURCES OF ERROR: List in point form:

1.Instrumental: (measuring instruments used and their precision from Page A9)

2.Procedural: (errors, not human mistakes, that were impossible to correct with the available apparatus and materials but which could affect your results)