Conservation

of

Energy & Resources

Purpose

This investigation is to find out which

material is the best insulator.

The material that can hold the heat

longest.

Materials Used

• a thermometer

• 4 glass bottles

• hot water

• a piece of newspapers

• a piece of silver foil

• woolen socks

• a plastic bag

Procedure

• Step 1

Get ready a thermometer and 4 bottles.

• Step 2

Testing of water for a right temperature

Since I can only get a clinical thermometer with readings

ranging from 94°F to 108°F,

the temperature of the hot water used must be high, above

104°F. To get readings when the temperature drops.

• Step 3

wrap the 4 different materials around each bottle with

rubber bands.

plastic bag woolen socks newspapers silver foil

• Step 4

Pour hot water into all the bottles, and make sure the

temperature is above 104°F.

• Step 5

Put in the thermometer into the bottles and record the

reading one by one.

• Step 6

Record the temperature again 5 minutes later.

• Step 7

Record the temperature again 10 minutes later.

• Step 8

Record the temperature again 20 minutes later.

Observations

Temp.

Materials

Temperature

(°F)

at the start

5 minutes

later

10 minutes

later

20 minutes

later

Newspapers 106.8°F 103.6 °F 99.6°F 94.7°F

Plastic bag 106.6°F 104°F 100.8°F 95.4°F

Woolen socks 104.8°F 102°F 99.5°F 95°F

Silver foil 107.4°F 102.4°F 98°F 94°F

Conclusions

Temp(°F)

Materials

Difference between the

highest and the lowest

temperature (°F)

Temperature dropped

(°F)

Newspapers 106.8 -- 94.7 12.1

Plastic bag 106.6 -- 95.4 11.2

Woolen socks 104.8 -- 95 9.8

Silver foil 107.4 -- 94 13.4

1. Can be seen from the table, the temperature of the water bottle wrap with the woolen socks drops slower than others at each recordings.

2. The temperature of the water bottle wrap with silver foil drops faster than others at each recordings.

The total temperature drops for woolen socks is the least, it’s only 9.8 °F

So, woolen socks is able to keep heat longer, and it is the best insulator.

Big Idea

1. I have learnt that different materials has different ability to hold heat.

2. So, we must use the right material for different uses.

3. To keep heat, we use woolen, thicker and darker material. But on the other hand, if heat is to let go faster we can use silver foil, thinner or material with lighter color.