Lab 1B Applying the Scientific Method Sample Lab Report

QUESTIO What type of cup will keep water the hottest for the longest period of time?

INTRODUCTION
In doing this experiment, we will be applying the steps of the scientific method to a specific question. From the question and our combined knowledge, we will develop hypothesis what we think will happen!, design an experiment to test the hypothesis. We will collect data and analy"e the data to see if the hypothesis is supported by the results of the experiment. If the experimental results do not support the hypothesis, we will examine the experimental design for flaws. If none are found that would explain the results, we will modify our hypothesis or experimental design. #he question we are asking and the hypothesis we will develop are both testable. We are asking a very specific question that is measurable with a thermometer, a very sub$ective instrument. %owever, in order to have good accurate results, we will need to make sure that only one variable changes between each test of the hypothesis. In this case what will change is the type of cup. &ll other variables will remain the same such as the type of thermometer used, the amount of hot liquid coffee, water, tea! in the cup, the interval the temperature is taken and the air temperature. If any of these vary between the tests, it could alter the data and we would not be sure which variable caused the results. 'ecause the starting temperature of the water in all cups might not be the same, we will compare the amount of heat lost from each cup over a period of time and not the actual temperatures of the liquid.

HYPOTHESIS
I! an insulated thermal! coffee cup is the best for keeping water the hottest for the longest period of time, T"E we will see less of a temperature drop in the water contained in the insulated thermal! cup than in any other type of cup.

MATERIALS For this experiment, we will need the following:

( cup paper cardboard! cup ( )tyrofoam cup ( ceramic cup ( thermal insulated cup Four thermometers *ne (++m, graduated cylinder %ot liquid coffee, water or tea! -lock with a second hand

PROCEDURES
(. .. /. 1. 2. %eat at least (+++ ml of water in a coffee maker till serving temperature. &ssemble the four cups in a row on the counter. 0sing the graduated cylinder, measure(++m, water and pour into the paper cup. %ave one group member immediately measure the temperature of the water and record on the data sheet. -ontinue to take the temperature of the liquid every 2 minutes for a total period of /+ minutes.

3. 5.

0sing a different group member, repeat steps /42 for the )tyrofoam cup, the ceramic cup and the thermal insulated cup. ,eave the thermometer in the liquid at all times. 6o not remove it between readings.

RESULTS
6ata #able -hange in #emperature in 6egrees -elsius in Four 7inds of -ups *ver /+ 8inutes Type of #$p 9aper 6ifference Initial Temp% 2: + Temp & min 2+ : 2/ ( 2; . 2/ . Temp 1' min 12 (/ 11 (+ 22 3 2+ 2 Temp 1& min 1. (3 1( (/ 22 3 1; 3 Temp (' min /: .+ /: (3 2. ; 15 : Temp (& min /3 .. /5 (5 2( (+ 12 (+ Temp )' min /1 .1 /2 (; 2+ (( 11 ((

-eramic 21 6ifference + )tyrofoam 3( 6ifference + #hermal 22 6ifference +

Bar Graph of Data

Line Graph of Data

DISCUSSION
*ur hypothesis was supported by the data collected during this experiment. *ur data clearly showed that, at the end of /+ minutes, the drop of the water temperature in the insulated cup was less than in the other cups except for the )tyrofoam cup. #he results for the )tyrofoam cup showed an equal amount of heat loss however, it appears to be a faster rate of loss even though the total heat loss was the same in the two cups. *b$ectives from 0nit ( that were important and demonstrated in this lab were the )cientific 8ethod, controlled and experimental variables, what can be tested and the metric system. We had to use the steps of the )cientific 8ethod to design an experiment that would test which type of cup would keep the coffee hottest for the longest period of time. #o do this the question that was originally asked had to be testable. It had to be based on something that could be observed and measured and not something that was only based on belief or faith. We are not trying to measure an opinion or value. *ur hypothesis was based on our collective knowledge and from the fact that we have each used these different kinds of cups so we have had personal experience to use to make our hypothesis. *ur hypothesis included a prediction of what we expected to see when we carried out the experiment. We wrote this as an IF<#%=> statement. If the thermal cup kept the coffee hottest the longest, #%=> the prediction! we would expect to see less heat lost from that cup. In order to be sure the change in temperature was due to the kind of cup and nothing else, we had to identify the controlled variables, that is, those factors that had to be kept the same in all four cup experiments. #he controlled variables included using the same room temperature and setting the cups on the same table top, using the same graduated cylinder to measure the liquid, having the same student measure the liquid at the meniscus, using the same volume of coffee in each cup, having all of the temperature measurements being taken in degrees -elsius every five minutes. We also know that since the hot water in all the cups did not start at the same temperature we had to calculate the difference so we would know how much heat each cup lost. With all these variables being the same or held constant, the only thing that changed was the type of cup. )o if the coffee in one cup stayed hotter than the others, the results must have been because of the type of cup and nothing else. #he type of cup is the experimental variable. 'y having only one experimental variable our data can be shown to either support or refute the hypothesis.

#here were some variables we could not control. We could not control how accurate each group member was in taking the temperature. We also noticed that the diameter of the cups was different. #his could not be controlled. #he thermal cup also had a lid available which we did not use, but whether a lid was used or not would have been another variable. We wrote the procedures for this experiment with exact steps so that it could be repeated by anyone else doing the experiment. #he more times an experiment is done with consistent results the more likely that the results are correct. #he data we collected showed that the thermal cup and the )tyrofoam cup each lost (( degrees of temperature. #his supported our hypothesis. We could modify our hypothesis to state that if the thermal cup &>6 the )tyrofoam cup were the best a keeping hot water hottest the longest, then they would show about the same temperature loss. If all the other groups in our class and other classes came up with the same data for these two types of cups, we could develop the -offee -up %eat ,oss #heory. &s long as no data was collected to show our hypothesis was incorrect, this theory would stand. If someone did an experiment that repeatedly showed a different cup kept hot water hotter longer, we could then change our theory. #his exercise helped me put the scientific method into perspective and to see it can be used with very basic kinds of questions that maybe we wouldn?t consider to be @scienceA. #he metric system and -entigrade<-elsius system came in handy, as we were using them to measure the volume of our hot water in milliliters and the water?s temperature in degrees -elsius. &s we measured the amount of hot water, we measured at the bottom of the meniscus where the water was sticking to the sides of the cylinder. #he experiment helped me to understand better the metric and -elsius systems of measuring. 0ntil now I could never quite grasp $ust how hot something was if I was given a temperature in -elsius. >or could I understand how much liquid there was if I was told in the metric system. >ow it is a bit easier. I always thought (++m, was much more than thatB I would like to change the experimental design so that all the cups were the same si"e. I think it would be good to compare our results to the other groups in the class. It would be interesting to follow someone else?s directions like we did with the potato and hydrogen peroxide. &dditional questions that I have now areC Is there a difference in cooling if the coffee has cream and<or sugar added? What about artificial sugar compared to real sugar? What about coffee cups with lids? I am interested in seeing if the lid makes any difference in the rate of cooling. I would guess that it keeps the

water from cooling as quickly. I?m also wondering if the thermal cup would have won this contest if the thermal cup had the same diameter. )ince it was bigger I would think it would lose the heat faster so if it was the same diameter it should have lost less heat. I think I could make a hypothesis about that now and test it.