Thermal insulators
This practical lesson covers:
- How insulation thickness effects the rate of heat transfer
Investigating the insulating properties of different materials Aim: To investigate how insulation thickness effects the rate of heat transfer. |
Background information: Insulating a hot object reduces the rate of heat loss to the surroundings. In this practical lesson, you will insulate a container using an insulating material and record the temperature over time. You will then vary the number of insulation layers to determine the relationship between insulation thickness and energy transfer. |
Variables:
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What is the purpose of the cardboard lid in this experiment?
to insulate the beaker
to measure the temperature of the water
to prevent contamination of the water
to prevent water spilling
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Why is it important to repeat the experiment?
To ensure accuracy and consistency of results
To collect less data
To reduce the time required for the experiment
To test the reliability of the thermometer
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Why is it important that the starting temperature is the same each time the experiment is repeated?
the rate of cooling depends on temperature. For the experiment to be fair and valid, the temperature at the start should be the same each time
the thermometer is more accurate at higher temperatures
it is easier to measure temperature changes when the temperatures are high
a high temperature must be used to prevent the water freezing
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What is the purpose of the cardboard lid in the experiment?
To cover the beaker or can
To keep the water warm
To hold the thermometer
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How often should you record the temperature of the water?
Every ten minutes
Every five minutes
Every fifteen minutes
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What is the experiment trying to measure?
The amount of insulation
The temperature of the water
The rate of heat loss
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What will have the slowest rate of heat loss?
The beaker or can with the most insulation
The beaker or can with the least insulation
The beaker or can with no insulation
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