Topic : Energy Value

CHAPTER 6: NUTRITION
ACTIVITY
6.2
Objective : Determining the energy value in food samples. √ E1 PI 1-1

Problem : Do cashews nuts have higher energy value than √ E1 PI 1-2

Statement groundnuts ?
Hypothesis : Cashews nuts have higher energy value than ground nuts. √ E1 PI 1-3
Manipulated : Types of nut
variable
Responding : The rise in temperature of water
variable
Fixed variable : Volume of distilled water √ E1 PI 1-4

Materials : Fresh ground nuts, fresh cashews nuts, distilled water

and matches

Apparatus : Boiling tubes, retort stand, plasticine, long pins, √ E1 PI 1-5

thermometer, electronic weighing scale, 25ml measuring
cylinder

Technique : Measure the rise in temperature by using a thermometer √ E1 PI 1-6

Procedure : 1. A cashew nut is weighed and its weight record.
2. 20ml of distilled water is poured into a boiling
tube.
3. The boiling tube is clamped to a retort stand.
4. The temperature of the distilled water in the boiling
tube is recorded.
5. The pointed end of a long pin is poked into a
cashew nut. The other end of the pin is poked into
a piece of plasticine.
6. The cashew nut is ignited by using a match stick √ E1 PI 1-7
and immediately placed under the boiling tube.
7. The flame from the cashew nut is allowed to heat
up the water. The water is stirred gently by using a
thermometer to distribute the heat evenly. At the
same time the rise in temperature is observed.
8. The final temperature of the water is recorded in a
table.
9. The energy value of the cashew nut is calculated.
10. Steps 1 to 9 are repeated by using a groundnut.
 TEACHER’S SIGNATURE : …………………..

Result : Food sample Cashew Groundnut

nut
Weight(g) 0.72 0.54
Initial temperature of water (oC) 30 30 √ E3 PI 1-2
Final temperature of water (oC) 92 74
Rise in temperature (oC) 62 44

We assume that all the heat released from the food sample
has been transferred to the water. Since the specific heat
capacity of water = 4.2 J-1g oC-1.

Energy value = 4.2 (Jg-1 oC-1) x mass of water (g) x

increase in temperature (oC)
_______________________________
Mass of peanut(g) x 1000
√ E4 PI 1
Energy value of cashew nut = 4.2 x 20 x 62
0.72
= 7233 J g -1

= 7.233 kJ g -1

Energy value of groundnut = 4.2 x 20 x 44

0.54
= 6488 J g -1

= 6.844 kJ g -1

Discussion : The higher the rise in temperature of water, the more the √ E4 PI 2
energy value content in the food sample.
The rise in temperature for cashew nut is higher than √ E4 PI 2
groundnut. Therefore, the energy value for the cashew nut
is higher than the groundnut.

Conclusion : The energy value of cashew nut is different from the

energy value of groundnut. Cashew nut has a higher √ E4 PI 3
energy value than groundnut. The hypothesis is accepted.