Contributed by: Connecticut Academic Performance Test (CAPT)
Have you ever bought a hot drink in a paper cup and found that it
was cold before you finished drinking it? Is there anything that can
be done to a paper cup to help keep a hot drink warm? Wrapping the
cup to insulate it might help, but what should you use to wrap the
cup?
Your Task
You will design and conduct an experiment to explore the insulating
abilities of different materials for keeping a liquid in a paper cup
warm. During this activity you will work with a lab partner (or possibly
two partners). You must keep your own individual lab notes because
after you finish, you will work independently to write a lab report
about your experiment.
You have been provided with the following materials and equipment.
It may not be necessary to use all of the equipment that has been
provided. You may use additional materials or equipment if they are
available.
6 paper cups with lids
1 sheet of cloth
2 sheets of black construction paper
2 sheets of white construction paper
1 large sheet of aluminum foil
1 liter of hot water
Access to a clock or watch with a second hand
2 large styrofoam cups with lids to carry hot water
Splash-proof goggles and aprons
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2 Thermometers
Graduated cylinder
Scissors
Ruler
Tape
Paper towels for cleanup |
Steps to Follow
- In your own words, clearly state the problem you are going
to investigate. Include a clear identification of the independent
and dependent variables that will be studied.
- Design an experiment to solve the problem. Your experimental
design should match your statement of the problem, should control
variable, and should be clearly described so that someone else
could easily replicate your experiment. Include a control if appropriate.
Write your experimental design on the page provided. Show your
design to your teacher before you begin your experiment.
Note: The hot water used in your experiment should be in the
range of 60o to 70o Celsius. The water should
not be heated above 70o for safety reasons.
- After receiving approval from your teacher, work with your
partner to carry out your experiment. Your teacher's approval
does not necessarily mean that your teacher thinks your experiment
is well designed. It simply means that in your teacher's judgement
your experiment is not dangerous or likely to cause an unnecessary
mess.
- While conducting your experiment, take notes on the attached
pages. Include the results of your experiment. All data should
be organized in tables, charts or graphs, which should be properly
labeled.
Your notes will not be score, but they will be helpful
to you later as you work independently to write about your experiment
and results. You must keep your won notes because you will
not work with your partner when you write your lab report.
When you have finished your experiment, you teacher will give
you instructions for cleanup procedures, including proper disposal
of all materials.
(Students are provided with four blank pages for their notes, as
well as a grid for tables, charts or graphs.)
Directions for Writing Your Laboratory Report
Working on your own, summarize your experiment and results. Use your
own notes that you took previously while working with your partner.
You may wish to write a first draft of your report on scratch paper.
Space for your final report is provided on the following pages in
the booklet. You will have approximately 30 minutes to complete your
report.
Your report should include the following:
- A clear statement of the problem you investigated. Include
a clear identification of the independent and dependent variables
that were studied.
- A description of the experiment you carried out. Your
description should be clear and complete enough so that someone
else could easily replicate your experiment.
- The results of your experiment. All of your data should
be organized in tables, charts or graphs, which should be properly
labeled.
- Your conclusions from the experiment. Your conclusions
should be fully supported by data.
- Comments about how valid you think your conclusions are.
In other words, how much confidence do you have in your results
and conclusions? Any factors that contribute to a lack of confidence
in the results or conclusions should be discussed. Also, include
ways that your experiment could be improved if you were to do
it again.
CAPT Experimentation Questions
A class of students performed a series of experiments to determine
which of several materials would be most effective for insulating
a paper cup.
One group of lab partners tested four different materials: black paper,
white paper, aluminum foil and cloth. The following table shows their
results.
Insulating
Material |
Temperature of Water in
Cups at Start of Experiment |
Temperature After
5 Minutes |
Temperature After
10 Minutes |
| Black Paper |
70oC |
60oC |
52oC |
| White Paper |
50oC |
45oC |
40oC |
| Aluminum Foil |
85oC |
70oC |
60oC |
| Cloth |
60oC |
54oC |
48oC |
- This is the group's statement of the problem: "We wanted to
see which of four materials would be good for wrapping around
a cup." Is this a clear statement of the problem? Explain why
or why not.
- The students concluded that the white paper was the most effective
insulator because the cup wrapped in white paper showed the smallest
drop in temperature. Is this group's conclusion valid? Explain
why or why not.
Another group in the class tried to use various materials and
combinations of materials. The following table shows their results.
Insulating
Material |
Temperature of Water in
Cups at Start of Experiment |
Temperature After
5 Minutes |
Temperature After
10 Minutes |
| 4 thicknesses of Black Paper |
80oC |
74oC |
70oC |
| 4 thicknesses of White Paper |
80oC |
75oC |
71oC |
| 4 thicknesses of Aluminum Foil |
80oC |
72oC |
66oC |
| 4 thicknesses of Cloth |
80oC |
73oC |
67oC |
| 1 thickness each of Black Paper, White
Paper, Aluminum Foil and Cloth |
80oC |
78oC |
76oC |
- What valid conclusions can you draw from these results? Explain
your answer.
- Do you have enough information to replicate this group's experiment?
If you think you do, tell what information you have. If you think
you do not tell what other information you would need.
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