Energy transfers and resources
Which material keeps a drink warm longest?
Does the insulating material change how fast energy is transferred away?
Watch first
An English teaching video on this topic from Cognito. Watch it, then scroll down for the lesson.
What you need
Tick each one as you find it — 0 of 5 ready.
Stay safe: Use warm, not boiling, water.
Plan the fair test
- Change: The wrapping material
- Measure: Temperature in degrees Celsius
- Keep the same: Volume and starting temperature of water, mug size, room temperature
Objectives this evidences
- Understand energy changes and transfers, including comparing power ratings and energy values of fuels and foods
Do it, one step at a time
Step 1 of 4
- Step 1. Fill each mug with the same volume of warm water and record the starting temperature.
- Step 2. Wrap one in foil, one in fabric and leave one bare as your control.
- Step 3. Record the temperature of each every two minutes for twenty minutes.
- Step 4. Plot all three sets of results as lines on one graph.
What should happen
The wrapped mugs cool more slowly. Trapped air is a poor conductor, so less energy transfers out.
Think about: The bare mug is your control. What would your graph fail to show without it?
Write up your result
A sentence or two is enough to save it.
The lessons behind this practical
Each one opens with the same short film, and the film has a written transcript underneath if reading is easier than watching.
Now the quiz for this topic
Questions come from the lessons behind this practical, so nothing is asked that has not been taught.
Quiz
Energy transfers and resources quiz
4 questions from the lessons in this stage. No timer, and you can try again as many times as you like.