HEAT TRANSFER IN FLUIDS

(big beaker/little beaker)

BACKGROUND: The lab will demonstrate how currents caused by differences in density transfer
heat through fluids. This method of energy transfer is believed to occur in Earths mantle below the
lithosphere and also occurs in the hydrosphere. In a future lesson, you will learn how convection
currents occur in the atmosphere and impact global wind patterns.

OBJECTIVE: Identify the type of heat transfer occurring in the demonstration.

VOCABULARY USED:
Convection
Density

PROCEDURE, PART A (Cold Water, Warm Dye)

1. Without doing a thing, READ the procedure and answer the pre-lab questions.
2. CAUTION, HOT: Fill the small glass bottle with hot water and then place ONE DROP of food
dye into the bottle.
3. Fill the plastic bottle with cold water.
4. One person in the group should start a timer while another person very CAREFULLY places
the glass bottle into the cold water (you do not want to mix the warm and cold water).
5. At the time the bottle is placed in, record your observations by neatly coloring the provided
diagram.
6. After 2 minutes, record your observations by neatly coloring the provided diagram.
7. After 5 minutes, record your observations by neatly coloring the provided diagram.
8. After 10 minutes, record your observations by neatly coloring the provided diagram.
9. Pour out all of the water and rinse both containers.

PROCEDURE, PART B (Warm Water, Cold Dye)

1. Fill the glass bottle with cold water and then place ONE DROP of food dye into the bottle.
2. CAUTION, HOT: Fill plastic bottle with hot water be VERY careful because the plastic is
not insulated and will be hot to handle.
3. One person in the group should start a timer while another person very CAREFULLY places
the glass bottle into the warm water (you do not want to mix the warm and cold water).
4. At the time the bottle is placed in, record your observations by neatly coloring the provided
diagram.
5. After 2 minutes, record your observations by neatly coloring the provided diagram.
6. After 5 minutes, record your observations by neatly coloring the provided diagram.
7. After 10 minutes, record your observations by neatly coloring the provided diagram.
8. Pour out all of the water and rinse both containers.
 COLD BEAKER OF WATER WARM BEAKER OF WATER
WARM DYE COLD DYE

T = 0 MIN

T = 2 MIN

T = 5 MIN

T = 10 MIN
1. Why didnt the cold dye
immediately rise into the
warm water?
2. What differences in 2. What differences in
densities caused the pattern
of movement observed
when the hot dye was
placed in cold water?
(Identify and compare the
density of each.
3. Apply this lab to air, what
would happen to the density
of air when heat is applied?
1. Why didnt the cold dye 1. Why didnt the cold dye
immediately rise into the immediately rise into the
warm water? warm water?
2. What differences in densities
densities caused the pattern
caused the pattern of
of movement observed
movement observed when
when the hot dye was
the hot dye was placed in
placed in cold water?
cold water? (Identify and
(Identify and compare the
compare the density of each.
density of each.
3. Apply this lab to air, what 3. Apply this lab to air, what
would happen to the density would happen to the density
of air when heat is applied? of air when heat is applied?
4. Draw arrows to create a convection cell of air that would exist in a
closed room with a heater on one side. Be sure to use red and blue
arrows to show warm and cool air.

4. Draw arrows to create a convection cell of air that would exist in a

closed room with a heater on one side. Be sure to use red and blue
arrows to show warm and cool air.

4. Draw arrows to create a convection cell of air that would exist in a

closed room with a heater on one side. Be sure to use red and blue
arrows to show warm and cool air.
 HEAT TRANSFER IN FLUIDS
(big beaker/little beaker)
PRE-LAB QUESTIONS:

C. What is the dependent variable in this lab? (Which one did we not know going
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A. What do you think will happen to the warm dye? Explain why.
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B. What is the independent variable in this lab? (Which one did we decide to
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into the lab? Which variable changed because of the other variable?)
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change? Which variable caused a change in the other variable?)

B. What is the independent variable in this lab? (Which one did we decide to

A. What do you think will happen to the warm dye? Explain why.
change? Which variable caused a change in the other variable?)
___________________________________________________________________

HEAT TRANSFER IN FLUIDS

C. What is the dependent variable in this lab? (Which one did we not know going

(big beaker/little beaker)

into the lab? Which variable changed because of the other variable?)
___________________________________________________________________
HEAT TRANSFER IN FLUIDS
(big beaker/little beaker)
PRE-LAB QUESTIONS:
A. What do you think will happen to the warm dye? Explain why.
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________

PRE-LAB QUESTIONS:
___________________________________________________________________
B. What is the independent variable in this lab? (Which one did we decide to
change? Which variable caused a change in the other variable?)
___________________________________________________________________
C. What is the dependent variable in this lab? (Which one did we not know going
into the lab? Which variable changed because of the other variable?)
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