Grade Level/Subject / 8th grade
Unit / Energy/ Thermal Energy
Enduring Understanding / Certain materials are good conductors while others are good insulators of energy. In this specific example the energy is in the form of heat.
SOL Objectives / PS.1 The student will plan and conduct investigations in which
a) equipment are used safely;
b) length, mass, volume, density, temperature, weight, and force are accurately measured and reported using metric units (SI—International System of Units);
d) thermometers, metric rulers, and graduated cylinders, are used to gather data;
f) research skills are utilized using a variety of resources;
g) independent and dependent variables, constants, controls, and repeated trials are identified;
h) data tables showing the independent and dependent variables, derived quantities, and the number of trials are constructed and interpreted;
j) frequency distributions, line plots, are constructed and interpreted;
k) valid conclusions are made after analyzing data;
l) research methods are used to investigate practical problems and questions;
m) experimental results are presented in appropriate written form; and
P.S. 7 The student will investigate and understand temperature scales, heat, and heat transfer. Key concepts include
a) Celsius and Kelvin temperature scales and absolute zero;
b) phase change, freezing point, melting point, boiling point, vaporization, and condensation;
c) conduction, convection, and radiation; and
d) applications of heat transfer (heat engines, thermostats, refrigeration, and heat pumps).
Title / Which cup will keep the water warm longer?
Lesson Objective / Design an experiment to determine which material will best keep hot water from cooling down.
Inquiry Level / 3
Materials Needed / ·  3 Styrofoam cups (6oz)
·  3 plastic cups (6oz)
·  3 metal cups (use recycled cans)
·  9 thermometers
·  stopwatch
How is it Level 3? / Teacher provides the problem and the materials. The procedure for testing the hypothesis is developed by the students.

Name ______Date ______Period______

Conductivity Lab

Question: Which type of cup will best keep a cup of hot coffee from getting cold?

Background info: An insulator is a material that is used to resist energy (heat) flow. A conductor is a material that allows energy to easily move through it.

In order to answer this question you will be given the following materials:.

Materials:

·  1 Styrofoam cup (6oz)
·  1 plastic cup (6oz)
·  1 metal cup (use recycled cans)
·  3 glass thermometers / ·  stopwatch or clock
·  hot pot
·  graduated cylinder
·  colored pencils or markers

What you will investigate: Design an experiment to determine which material will best keep hot water from cooling down. You will want to consider?

_  How you will use the 3 cups of each type of material to design your experimental setup?

_  What factors will you keep the same for each experimental setup?

_  What factors will change between the setups?

_  What will you measure?

Designing an experiment:

Independent variable (IV)

What is the one factor that you will change in the experiment? ______

Dependent variable (DV)

What factor will you measure that changes as a result of the IV?

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Hypothosis: Write a hypothesis? (This should be an IF/THEN statement. If the change in the IV…. Then the DV will ….. ) Sample hypothesis: If one plant is given blue light and another red light then the plant with red light will grow taller.

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Procedure: Write a detailed procedure below: Be sure to list specific quantities and number of trials for each setup.

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Diagram: Draw a diagram of your experimental setup.

Data and Observations: Use the data table below to record observations. Label the top of each column. (The first column has already been labeled for you.)

Time (minutes)

Graph: (Line graph with 3 lines.) Make a key. Use three different colors)

Label the y axis. The x axis has already been labeled. Create an appropriate scale.

Key:

Time

Written Results: Which type of cup best kept a cup of hot water from getting cold?

(Use your data to justify your answer)

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Conclusion: Did your data support your hypothesis? (Why or why not. Explain).

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Improvements: If you had to run the experiment again, what changes would you make to the procedures? ______

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Critical Thinking:

What properties of the cups led to the different results?

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Do you think you would get the same results trying to keep a beverage cold instead of hot? Explain.

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