Temperature Probes and Insulators

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Fall 2009-Day 11
Heat and Temperature Activities

Our next activity involved using heat and temperature probes. During the previous class, some discussion about which objects would be better insulators sparked an idea for an activity that could be done. Adam gave each group of four students a styrofoam, a paper, a metal, and a plastic cup. The students poured hot water into each of the four cups. They measured the temperature as soon as the water was poured to see if they were all the same temperature. Using the probes, data was transferred about the temperature onto a computer program that showed exact units. The water was the same temperature at first, but as time passed, some of the temperatures dropped quicker than others. The students concluded that styrofoam held heat the best; therefore, it must be the best insulator.