Conduction

We have begun our new unit.  After investigating Matter and how Heat energy effects it, we will now focus on Heat Transfer.  We will learn about Conduction, Covection, and Radiation.
To begin with, I taught the students how to safely light a strike-on-the-box match.  Education and practice in a safe, controled environment will eliminate most chances of an accident.

We then did an activity called, Hot Soup" where the kids placed a metal soup in a beaker of hot water for 5 minutes and then recorded their observations.
Conduction is the movement of heat energy through a solid, usually a metal.  Heat energy makes the molecules of the substance vibrate faster and they bump into other molecules.  Then, the other molecules become hot, vibrate faster, and bump into other molecules.

Today, we finished up an experiment call. "The Heat Race" where we investigated the question, "Will heat energy travel through different metal wires at the same rate?"

 Conduction - The Heat Race!

1. Problem: Will heat travel through different metal wires at the same rate?
2. Hypothesis:
3. Experiment:


A. Materials
Copper, brass, and iron wire
Chocolate bit
Matches
Candle
Safety glasses
Stopwatch
2 beakers for the bridge


B. Procedures:
1. Gather all of your materials
2. Place the chocolate bit on the wire as demonstrated by Mr. Williams
3. Measure 10cm from the chocolate bit and put a mark on the wire.
4. Place the candle under the mark; make sure the flame is just below the wire, not touching it.]
5. Light the candle, place it under the mark, and start your stopwatch.
6. Record how long it takes for to chocolate bit to fall off. Repeat 3 times.
7. Share your results. Make sure you get results for all 3 types of metal.
8. Clean up.


4. Observations: Make sure you do both your Qualitative and Quantitative (data chart) observations.


5. Conclusion: Answer the 4 Conclusion questions from your Scientific Method Guidelines sheet. Do a nice, neat, labeled sketch of the experiment.