Heat Labs - by TOP Science

Click on the photo below of the lab you want then follow the instructions to complete the exercise.  All of these labs are photographs from a purchased copy of TOPS Learning Systems' copyrighted "Heat" Unit.  TOPS Learning Systems are brilliant inquiry based lessons which you can see and purchase online at <http://topscience.org/>  and are used with the intention of following the copyright guidelines.  [Email me if you see copyright being abused or if you have concerns about their use in this format.  

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Hot Wire

Hot Wire

Additional questions:  How can you tell heat is traveling when you cannot see the heat?  Describe the movement of heat as atom collisions.
Heat Race

Heat Race

Additional questions:  What properties make one metal a better conductor than another metal? :
Conductor or Insulator

Conductor or Insulator

Additional questions:  If glass is a better insulator than aluminum, then why did the corner of glass get hot enough to vaporize the wax when the aluminum did NOT get hot enough to vaporize the wax.
Cold Finger

Cold Finger

Additional questions:  When describing the transfer of heat be sure to discuss heat's movement and not "cold's movement."  What conditions are necessary to permit heat to move from one object to another? (There are two conditions...)  What does it mean about the beginning of the universe if the universe is always becoming less organized and energy is always becoming less useful? Describe a practical application of a vacuum being a good insulator.
Rise and Fall

Rise and Fall

Instructions modifications:  Use red and blue water for intuitive identification of temperatures.  Do hot/red water on top first.  Additional questions:  In last question, compare and contrast conduction and convection. Can a solid transfer heat by convection?  Explain.  Can a liquid transfer heat by conduction?  Explain.
Convection Machine

Convection Machine
Too Hot To Handle

Too Hot To Handle

Instructions modifications:  Use very small amount of paper towel to hold down ice.  Use burner instead of candle.  You can use test tube holder when putting test tube in flame but handle carefully.  Additional questions:  In last question, compare and contrast conduction and convection.
Paper Cooking Pot

Paper Cooking Pot
Radiation

Radiation
Reflection Absorbtion

Reflection Absorbtion
Best Emitter

Best Emitter
Best Absorber

Best Absorber
Hold That Heat

Hold That Heat
Cold Hands

Cold Hands
Water Mix 1

Water Mix 1
Water Mix 2

Water Mix 2
Heat Capacity 1

Heat Capacity 1
Heat Capacity 2

Heat Capacity 2
Peanut Power

Peanut Power

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