EXPERIMENT: THERMAL PHYSICS

1/ Thermal processes: Convection

Aim: After this experiment, you can:
 Demonstrate how convection currents can generate motion.
Apparatus: You will need:
 windmill template
 Printer paper:
 Scissors
 Wooden skewer
 Plastic tube
 Clay
 Candle
 Glue gun
 Straw
 Paper plate

Method
1 Print out the windmill template. Cut the circle out
from the template.
2 Cut along the solid lines of the template.
Be sure not to cut all the way to the center of the
circle.
3 Carefully fold the paper circle down along the dotted
lines of the template, so that you have triangular
edges pointing down. (as shown as Figure 1)
4 Flip the windmill so the edges point up. Attach a 5
cm straw piece at the center, keeping it vertical.
5 Cut (or break) a wooden skewer so that it is 13-15 Figure 1
cm long (and still has one pointed end).
6 Place the wooden skewer into a piece of Clay, and stick that onto the center of the
paper plate. Make sure that the skewer is as vertical as possible.
7 Once the clay hardens, place the windmill’s straw onto the skewer. Test by spinning
it with your hands, then place candles on the stand to see it spin!
Results:
Q: Describe your observations in the experiment and explain why it happened.
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2/ Investigating Thermal Insulators
Aim:
 The aim is to investigate the relationship between material as thermal insulator
wrapped around a beaker and the rate of cooling of hot water in the beaker.
Apparatus: You will need:
 Beaker
 Kettle
 Water
 Thermometer
 Insulators
 Stopwatch

Method
1. Prepare the beakers: Label one beaker "Insulated" and the other "Uninsulated."
2. Set up the insulated beaker: Wrap the insulating material around the "Insulated" beaker,
using elastic bands or tape to secure it in place. Ensure the insulation covers as much of
the beaker as possible, leaving the top open.
3. Leave the "Uninsulated" beaker as is, with no insulation.
4. Carefully pour boiling water from a kettle into both beakers, filling them to the same
level.
5. Quickly and carefully place the lids on both beakers. Insert the thermometer through the
hole in each lid, ensuring the thermometer bulb is submerged in the water.
6. Record initial temperature: Note the starting temperature of the water in both beakers.
This will be your time zero (t=0) reading. Start the stopwatch immediately.
7. Record the temperature of the water in both beakers every 2 minutes for at least 15
minutes. Record the time and temperature for each beaker in a table.
8. Plot a graph with temperature on the y-axis and time on the x-axis.
Results and calculations:
Materials Time (mins) Temperature Materials Time (mins) Temperature
(oC) (oC)
0 0
2 2
4 4
6 6
8 8
10 10
12 12
14 14
16 16

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Analysis of Results
Plot a graph of temperature against time and draw a curve of best fit:
Temperature (oC)

time (mins)
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Curve of best fit: a curve that passes as close as possible to a set of plotted points.

 To draw a curve of best fit, draw the smooth curve that passes through as many
points as possible.
 If all the points aren’t located on the line, draw a symmetric line (make the number
of points above the line equal to the number of points below the line).
 Avoid sharp corners or sudden changes in direction unless the data clearly suggests
that. A curve of best fit should be a smooth representation of the underlying trend.
 Never connect the dots/or leave traces of connections between
the points
YES NO
An incorrect line of best fit -it is not smooth.

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Homework
1/ About experiment: Investigating Thermal Insulators

Mention equipment used, measurements made, precautions taken to achieve good results
and any difficulties encountered in the experiment.

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2/ A student investigates the cooling of hot water in a beaker.

Plan an experiment to investigate the relationship between the effectiveness of different
thermal insulators wrapped around a beaker and the rate of cooling of hot water in the
beaker. You are provided with:
• a supply of hot water
• a beaker
• a measuring cylinder
• thermal insulators.
You may use any other common laboratory apparatus.
You are not required to do this investigation.
In your plan include:
• any other apparatus needed
• a brief description of the method, including what you will measure and how you will
make sure your measurements are accurate
• the variables you will control
• a results table to record your measurements (you are not required to enter any
readings in the table)
• how you will process your results to draw a conclusion. You may include a labelled
diagram if you wish.
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