Biology Practical Report

Calories in food
4/4/2011 Grade 9C M. Sharan Visagan

BIOLOGY PRACTICAL REPORT

Introduction The experiment that we are to do involves heating a test-tube using the flame of various food substances obtained by a spirit lamp. We have to note down the temperature change after the completion of every food substance. The five food substances to be used are namely, biscuits, walnuts, popcorn, cashew nuts and chips.

Aim:
The aim of this experiment is to find out the total amount of calories present in each food substance and how it affects the temp. of the water.

Hypothesis:
I hypothesize that the food substances that have more energy content would produce a higher temperature change to the water. This is because the energy that is present in these food substances (commonly known as calories) gives out heat and light energy when set on fire. Therefore, this would cause the food substances with higher energy content to produce a longer flame (in terms of duration). The longer flame would naturally cause a higher temperature rise. This is explained in the diagram below:

Using knowledge of nutrition, I further hypothesize that the temperature rise would be the highest with the walnuts. This is because walnuts are rich in calories. The amount of energy (or calories) in a food substance can be calculated using this general formula:

Variables
Independent: 1. Type of food substance used (calories present) Dependent: 1. Temperature change 2. Duration of flame Controlled: 1. 2. 3. 4. Amount of liquid added to test tube Initial mass of food substances Type of thermometer used Spirit lamp & alcoholic liquid used

*Manipulation Independent: 1. The type of food substance used is what alters and makes changes to the temperature of the liquid in the test tube. The calories in the various food substances decide the duration of the flame thus deciding the temperature change too. As fire has no definite temperature, we can use the time taken for the flame to work on the test tube as a rough guide. Though, we are not taking the duration into account at any stage of the results.

Dependent: 1. The temperature change depends on the type of food substance used and ultimately concludes the calories present in it. If the food substance has comparatively more calories, the temperature change is higher due to the duration of the flame.

2. The duration of the flame depends on the calories present in each type of food substance. This makes changes to the temperature.

Controlled: 1. The amount of liquid added to the test tube is decided and fixed up before starting. This does not vary/ change at any stage of the experiment and is kept constant. The volume of the water might change during the experiment due to heating but is very small and negligible.

2. The initial mass of the food substances is calculated and fixed up to be all of 0.5 g before starting. This does not vary/ change at any stage of the experiment and is kept constant. The mass can change during the experiment due to burning. This is not to be taken into account and doesn t matter.

3. The type of thermometer used is decided and fixed up before starting. This does not vary/ change at any stage of the experiment and is kept constant.

4. The alcoholic spirit liquid used in the spirit lamp is fixed up before starting the experiment. This does not vary/ change at any stage of the experiment and is kept constant.

Materials Required
S. No 1. Material Food Substances:Biscuits Walnuts Quantity 0.5g (3 pcs each)

4 Popcorn Cashew nuts Chips (Cheetos Test tube / Distilled Water Thermometer Skewer Spirit Lamp Test tube stand Tissue Test tube holder Notepad/ pen

2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9.

1 / 20ml 1 1 1 1 1 -

Diagrams
Materials

Set-Up

Method
 Firstly, get all the materials required and set them up for the experiment.1  Weigh all the food samples and modify their shape in order to bring their final mass to below or 0.5g.2  Start by attaching a food sample to the skewer and heating it over the spirit flame.3  Do not forget to measure the initial temperature in the test tube  As soon as the food sample catches fire, bring it under the test tube and heat it.4|5  Keep holding it until the fire dies.6  Measure the final temperature of the thermometer  Keep repeating this for each food sample (3 for each substance) and note down the results in a notepad.  After the experiment is over, rinse all the materials and return them to their designated locations. Dispose all waste matter properly.

Precautions 1. While setting up the test tube stand, be careful as to setting the screw for the test tube opening tight enough to avoid damages. 2. While weighing the food, be careful as to not placing your hands or any object anywhere near the electronic balance as this would give inaccurate measures. 3. Keep another group mate s hand around the flame so that it doesn t die 4. Work responsibly and do not consume any food during the experiment. 5. Do not forget to take the thermometer out of the test tube before heating it to prevent defects in the thermometer. 6. The flame can sometimes be re-obtained, so after it dies, try lighting it again. Keep doing this until further not possible.

Results
Obtained Results: Biscuit Trial No. 1 2 3 Vol. of water (ml) 20 20 20 Mass (g) 0.5 0.5 0.5 Initial Temp. (oC) 21.5 23 22.5 Final Temp. (oC) 32 34 32 Change (oC) +10.5 +11 +10.5

Walnut Trial No. 1 2 3 Vol. of water (ml) 20 20 20 Mass (g) 0.5 0.5 0.5 Initial Temp. (oC) 22.5 22.5 22.5 Final Temp. (oC) 48 44 47 Change (oC) +26.5 +21.5 +24.5

Popcorn Trial No. 1 2 3 Vol. of water (ml) 20 20 20 Mass (g) 0.2 0.2 0.2 Initial Temp. (oC) 20 22.5 22.5 Final Temp. (oC) 27 28 29 Change (oC) +7 +5.5 +6.5

Cashew nut Trial No. 1 2 3 Chip Trial No. 1 2 3 Vol. of water (ml) 20 20 20 Mass (g) 0.5 0.5 0.5 Initial Temp. (oC) 23 22.5 22 Final Temp. (oC) 35 33 30 Change (oC) +12 +10.5 +8 Vol. of water (ml) 20 20 20 Mass (g) 0.4 0.4 0.4 Initial Temp. (oC) 23 23 22.5 Final Temp. (oC) 40 35 38 Change (oC) +17 +12 +15.5

Processed Results:-

Discussion of Results
The results that we obtained were positive. My hypothesis stated that the food substance with the highest nutrients would be the walnut. Our results proved this correct. The second food substance with the most nutrients was the cashew nut. The third was popcorn. The fourth was biscuit and finally, the last was the chips. This can help us say that the walnut has the most calories inside whereas the chips have the least. Therefore, the flame s duration is most for the walnut and least for the chips.

Conclusion
Ican conclude by saying that this experiment was fairly good. However, we could have obtained more accurate results if we would have kept a few things in mind. The aim of this experiment was to find out the total amount of calories present in each food substance and how it affects the temp. of the water. We have successfully proven that: The higher the calories, the longer duration of the flame and thus, higher temperature change.

Evaluation
This experiment was good. Although, there are some points to keep in mind such as:y y Do not delay while taking the flame to the test tube Keep the skewer at an appropriate angle towards the test tube

10

y y

Do not let the flame die off by protecting it by covering the wind using hands Take the thermometer out before any rise of temp.

Also, our group was placed at an area right below the air-conditioning vent. As a result, our readings were not very accurate. This can be prevented in future. Otherwise, no major errors whatsoever.