The best insulator

The best insulator

Pencil and paperOnline interactive
Overview
Using this Resource
Connecting to the Curriculum
Marking Student Responses
Further Resources
This task is about insulation.
Goal: To find out which material is the better insulator. The materials provided are all used to help keep a house warmer and stop the heat escaping.
Your task is to find out which material keeps the water hottest.
diagram of insulation experiment
Set up the following experiment:
  1. Pour 75 mL of boiling water into each beaker, fix a piece of gladwrap over the beakers and then place a piece of cardboard with a hole in its centre over this.
  2. Measure the temperature.
  3. Measure the temperature after 15 minutes.
  4. Complete the results table.

Question 1Change answer

a)  Results
Material
Temperature (°C)
Start
 After 15 minutes Change
Air
Paper
Pink bats
Aluminium foil

Question 1Change answer

b)  Conclusion: Put the materials in order from the best to the worst insulator.
         
(best insulator)                                                                                             (worst insulator)

Question 1Change answer

c)  Conclusion: What are three things in the experiment that were important to keep the same?
Task administration: 
This task can be complete with equipment and pencila and paper or online.
 
Equipment:
4 × 440 g cans; 4 × 100 mL beakers*; thermometers; newspaper; pink bats; aluminium foil; cardboard; gladwrap.
  • *Alternatively use 4 × boiling test tubes with rubber bungs.
  • Handle pink bats with rubber gloves.
  • The beaker in 'air' was sitting on crossed pieces of cardboard.
Copyright: 
Image copyright: NZCER
Level:
4
Curriculum info: 
Science, Investigating in science, Physical World
Keywords: 
physical inquiry, insulation, fair testing, experiments
Description of task: 
This practical task requires students to follow an experimental design that investigates various forms of insulation. They are required to gather results, make a conclusion, and identify the variables.
Curriculum Links: 
Science capabilities
The capabilities focus is brought about by the conversations you have and the questions you ask.
 
Capability: Gather and interpret data
This resource provides opportunities to discuss methodologies when using models for investigations.
Science capabilities: 
Gather and interpret data
Making Better Sense: 
Insulation
Answers/responses: 
 a)   Table completed.
 b)

i)
ii)

 From results, material giving best temperature change.
From results.
 c)

 

 Any 3 of: 

  • same initial temperature
  • same sized/shaped cans
  • amount of water
  • mass of insulation
  • same sized beakers (or other containers used)