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Proposal to Investigate Heat Transfer

School:

St. Gorges College

Grade:
Subject:

School-based Assessment Science Proposal

Date Submitted:

November 10, 2014

Investigating Heat Loss from a Hot Liquid

Problem Statement:
The rate of heat transfer from body is dependent on the surface area of the body and the ambient
temperature of the body. The problem is to determine how fast the molecules are moving.
Additionally, the researcher is seeking to find out if the heat loss to the surrounding is dependent
on the temperature if liquid itself.
Objective/Aim
The aim of the quantitative, quasi-experiment is to determine how fast is the molecules of
a liquid substance are moving such that the heat transfer can be measured. The experiment also
seek determine if heat loss is dependent on the temperature of the liquid itself or dependent on
the temperature in the environment of the liquid.
Hypothesis
Research hypotheses are statements in quantitative research in which the investigator
makes prediction about the outcome of a relationship among attributes or characteristics
(Creswell, 2012).
Null Hypothesis 1: Heat loss from a hot liquid to its surrounding is not dependent only on its own
temperature.

Hypothesis 2: Heat loss from a hot liquid to its surrounding is dependent only on its own
temperature.
Theory/Research:
The rate of heat transfer from body is dependent on the surface area of the body and the
ambient temperature of the body. Heat refers to the energy transferred from a hotter object to a

cooler one. Heat is transferred in three ways namely, a) radiation, b) conduction, and c)
convection.
Radiation is the direct transfer of energy. The direct transfer of heat from one substance to
another substance that it is touching is called conduction. Conduction works well in some solids,
but not as well in fluids (liquids and gases). In fluids, molecules can move from place to place
and take their heat with them. The transfer of heat by the movement of a fluid is called
convection.
The experiment seeks to investigate the behaviour of the molecules in a liquid substance
and how the heat dissipates when the liquid has more energy and the molecules are moving
faster. When they are moving faster, they become less dense and are father apart. Hence, the
problem is to determine how fast the molecules moving and what is rate of heat transfer is.

Variables

Manipulating Variable
The manipulating variable is the heat energy measured in joules.
Responding Variable
The responding variable is the change of temperature. Say temperature at the beginning is
T1 and temperature at the next stage is T2

Controlling Variable
The controlling variable is the temperature being measured.

Apparatus
Diagrams
1. Cup of water

2. Heating microbe

3. Thermometer

4. Wring paper and pen

Procedure
Steps:

1. Piped water in placed into the cup and the temperature of the water in recorded.
2. The temperature of the water is recorded using the digital thermometer. Write the nominal
temperature on the paper.
3.

Data Collected: (Show the format with correct headings and units. DO NOT enter data)
Data Analysis: (Write questions to determine conclusion)
Discussion: a) Write two possible sources of error.
b) Write two possible precautions.

References
http://www.district196.org/schools/shms/STAFF/SIEFKES_T/tebweb/sci_units/E
nergy/penguin/CCR_worksheets/Heat%20transfer%20worksheet.pdf

Creswell, J. W. (2012). Qualitative inquiry and research design: Choosing among five approaches. Sage
publications.