Inquiry Activity - Heat Transfer

The Heat Is On!!!!


I recently completed an inquiry activity that investigated the transfer of heat through various materials.  For my experiment, I used waxed paper, aluminum foil, plastic wrap, and a dryer sheet.

To time the activity, I used http://www.online-stopwatch.com/.


My hypothesis was that the aluminum foil would be the best insulator, followed by the waxed paper, the plastic wrap, and, finally, the dryer sheet.  As time progressed, I noticed bits of condensation underneath the waxed paper and the plastic wrap.  Also, there was a scent being given off by the dryer sheet.  At the end of the thirty minutes, I measured the temperature of each cup.  To my surprise, the plastic wrap and the waxed paper, at a tie, beat out the aluminum foil.  The dryer sheet, as I suspected, at the worst time.




If I had to repeat the experiment, I would change several variables.

• Instead of ceramic coffee mugs, I would use plastic cups or Styrofoam cups.
• Instead of hot water, use cold water to investigate the amount of heat transfer INTO the water.
• Broaden the variables used to cover the cups (newspaper, fabric, sandpaper, etc.)

Procedural changes are as follows.

• Use individual thermometers for each cup/container so that there is no lapsed time between readings.
• Shorten the time between readings, and make more readings (three to five).  This allows for more accurate data so that students can graph the energy transfer.
• Have students complete the activity in small groups, between two to three students.
• Use digital cameras to record the activity.  Pictures can be used for PowerPoints and social networking sites, such as blogs.

To incorporate this into STEM, I found an engineering related guided inquiry activity from "Save the Penguins: Teaching the science of heat transfer through engineering design."  This article,written by
Christine Schnittka, Randy Bell, and Larry Richards, explores how students can engineer a habitat for penguin shaped ice cubes.  To do this, students expand upon their knowledge of insulating materials and how heat energy moves through conduction, convection, and radiation.  (This journal article can be found at the Walden University Research Database.)