Heat Transfer

This week we had to do an experiment on heat transfer.  The four material I chose was aluminum foil, plastic wrap, coffee filter, and a cloth. My results showed that the cup of hot water with the coffee filter on it lost more heat than the rest.  The other three materials were about the same.  I chose these four materials from what I had in my home.  The experiment I conducted heat was transfered by two methods conduction and convection.  The third type of heat transfer radiation was not present in this experiment. Due to I conducted it in my kitchen with the lack of sun light. 
If I were to repeat this experiment I would use the aluminum foil, plastic wrap, wax paper, and a ziplock bag.   I would also heat my water in the microwave prior to covering the cups.

This week we did an experiment using batteries, wires, and nails.  I found it to be interesting.  However, after I completed the experiment I was thinking of different ways that I could enhance this activity to make it more interesting to students.  Any suggestions????

I tested what affects different surfaces had on the momentum of the marbles. I tested a small marble and a large marble on a slick, grooved, and carpeted surface this was the only variable changed throughout this experiment.  According to the racetrack video “to have a reliable test you must only change one variable, run the test at least three times, and then you average the results.” (Laureate, media)    

            Throughout these experiments, I took the small marble and rolled it down a ½ inch incline. I used the same two marbles and the same ruler.  I also used the same books to measure the incline.  This allowed my experiment to become more accurate.   

In the first test, I chose a glass table.  The average roll for the small marble was 63.33cm.  The average roll for the large marble was 65cm.  I found that there was a small difference in the length of the roll.  I believe this was due to the weight of the larger marble compared to the smaller marble.  I concluded that there was more momentum in the larger marble than in the smaller marble. 

            To further my experiment, I took both marbles and tested them on a hard wood floor. On this floor, there are grooves.  My hypothesis was that the marbles would not travel as far due to the friction of the flooring compared to the glass surface.  According to my data, my hypothesis was correct the small marble average was 50.666 cm, and the large marble was 60.666 cm.  I again found the larger marble to have more momentum than the smaller marble due to the weight difference in the marbles. 

            For the final experiment, I change the variable to a carpeted area. Again, I hypothesized that the momentum of the marbles would decrease due to an increase in friction.  My hypothesis was correct.  The average for the small marble was 6.8333 cm, and the average for the large marble was 11 cm.  

           To make this experiment more engaging I would allow my students to choose what two items they would like to test example marbles, cars, or any other item that they can complete the experiment accurate test.   I would like students to learn that the momentum of an object is determined by the objects mass and the friction that it encounters. I was able to achieve this goal in throughout this experiment.