Can Challenge 2013

By: Manal Haroon and Rachel

Anderson

Objective

The objective of this experiment was to find

the best heat insulating materials to build an

insulator. The insulators job was to keep a

can of hot water from having the least

amount of temperature drop.

Hypothesis

Our hypothesis was that if we use cork

boards, foam boards, hay string, felt, and

emergency blanket, then our insulator will

maintain the heat of the water the best.

Materials

• Cork boards

• Foam boards

• Hay string

• Emergency blanket

• Felt

• Duct tape

• A ruler

• Hot glue

• A box cutter

• Glitter!! (optional)

Cork was a good material to use for our

insulator. It provides good insulation

because it is made out of wood, has a lot of

dead air space, and is very dense so it

keeps the heat

Cork boards

Foam boards

Foam boards are good heat insulators as

well. Foam consists of many gas filled

bubbles and air pockets. These bubbles trap

the outside air and prevent it from going

through. Therefore, foam board is a good

heat conductor.

Hay String

Hay is a straw based material and is very

dry and rough. It is a good insulator as long

as it does not get wet because it traps in

heat because of its aridness.

Felt

Felt is a good insulator because the fabric

has many air pockets. So air can come

through but cannot escape from the inside.

Emergency blankets

Emergency blankets are good insulators

because provide heat well because the

silvery part on the inside of the blanket

reflects 90% of the heat back onto the object

so it cannot escape.

Procedure

Step 1:

Gather up all of your materials

(cork boards, foam boards, hay

string, emergency blanket, felt, duct tape, a

ruler, hot glue, and a box cutter)

Procedure

Step 2:

With a box cutter, measure and cut out four

10 x 10 x 20 pieces of the foam board. This

will serve as the main structure.

Procedure

Step 3:

measure out a 6 x 2 square of foam to fit on

the inside of the insulator. Surround it with

felt and hot glue it on and then glue a same

size piece of emergency blanket to the

bottom

ProcedureStep 4:

measure out a 6 x 2 piece of cork and duct

tape it to the tip of the box to make a flap

like in the picture below

then measure out a same size piece of

emergency blanket and glue in to the bottom

Procedure

Step 5:

Put tape on the all of the bottom of the

insulator to cover the hole.

Procedure

Step 6:

cut out four same size pieces of corkboard

(10 x 10 x 20) and glue one on each of the

foam boards.

Procedure

Step 7:

Tape together all four sides of the foam

board together using the duct tape to make

a rectangular box shape.

Procedure

Step 7:

After the glue has dried, align the inside with

felt on all of the inside walls of the insulator

Procedure

Step 8:

After the glue has dried, line the insides of

the insulator with emergency blanket. Silver

side facing inward.

Procedure

Step 9:

Stuff the bottom of the insulator with hay

string

Procedure

Step 10:

Test out insulator and record data