LAB #2: INSULATION – KEEPING HEAT IN

STEP 1: QUESTION
Science always begins with a question. The question MUST relate to the experiment you are
conducting and to the hypothesis. You MUST be answering the question by doing the experiment.
Write your question here:

STEP 2: HYPOTHESIS
Once you have a good question, it’s time to think about how the
experiment will be set up and conducted. This starts with making a prediction
and writing a hypothesis.

A hypothesis uses the form If… Then… Because… and turns your prediction into a statement that
directly relates to the design of your experiment. Here’s the hypothesis we will use for this experiment.

If

Then

Because

A few notes on writing a hypothesis: 1. It makes a prediction about what will happen. 2. IT DOES
NOT MATTER IF YOUR HYPOTHESIS IS CORRECT! There is just as much to learn from an incorrect
prediction as there is in a correct one. 3. In the because part of the hypothesis, it is a good idea to
incorporate some of your past experience. This shows your ability to support your prediction with some
good thinking.

STEP 3: VARIABLES
All experiments include three types of variables. Variables are factors (or parts) that can
be changed in an experiment.

Manipulated variable – the ONE factor that you change in an experiment. This is very important!
Write the manipulated variable in this experiment here:
Controlled variable(s) – factors that must stay the same throughout the experiment. There is usually
more than one.
Write the controlled variables in this experiment here:

Responding variable – This is what you measure in an experiment. This could be distance, volume,
weight, mass, change in color, etc…
Write the responding variable in this experiment here:

STEP 4: MATERIALS
• three identical soda cans
• three Celsius thermometers
• timer to measure minutes
• hot water (50 C)
• insulating materials (Ex.fiberglass, wool, Styrofoam, newspaper, aluminum foil)
• rubber bands
• metric ruler
• safety glasses
OUR TWO INSULATING MATERIALS ARE:______________ and ______________

STEP 5: PROCEDURE (step by step instructions)

1. Obtain two of the insulating materials. Carefully and completely wrap one can with one insulation
and a second can with the other. Make sure you wrap the can tops, but leave a small hole above
the pop-top opening for the thermometer. Hold the insulation in place with rubber bands. Be
careful not to spill any water on the insulation.

2. Carefully pour hot water into the cans. Leave approximately 1cm at the top.

3. Leave the third can unwrapped.

4. Wrap rubber bands around the tops of the three thermometers. Insert the thermometers through
the insulation and pop-top opening into the cans. Adjust the rubber bands so that the
thermometers are at equal depths (about halfway) in the cans and do not touch any part of the
cans.

5. Label the first two columns in Data Table 1 with the kinds of insulation you are using.

6. Read and record in Data Table 1 the temperature of the water in each can.

7. Continue to record the water temperature in each can every minute for 20 minutes.
STEP 6: DATA & OBSERVATIONS
This is simply an organized place to record your observations / measurements (also
known as the responding variable).

Data Table #1
Temperature ºC
Time Naked can Insulator #1 Insulator #2
(minutes) Can Can
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
STEP 7: GRAPH
Create a graph to show your data from the 3 cans. Include a key to help identify which line represents
which can.
STEP 8: CONCLUSION
We will work on this together, but here’s a general checklist to writing a conclusion.

Paragraph 1: Restate your hypothesis and explain why it was right or wrong.

_____ Is your hypothesis clearly restated?

_____ Did I indicate whether it was right or wrong?
_____ Have I explained why I was right or wrong?
_____ Have I explained what I understand about insulation?

Paragraph 2: Discuss your data and observations (table & observations).

Some sentences to help you out:

The can with the ******** insulation dropped the least, so it was a better insulator.

The can with the ******** insulation dropped the most so it was a poor insulator.

_____ What was the difference in temperatures between the three cans?
_____ Why was there a difference? How do your graph and observations help to
further explain insulation?

Paragraph 3: Human Error – where might you have had some human error in your experiment? How
would that have affected your results?

_____ At least 1-2 human errors that could have affected results
_____ An explanation for how and why each of these errors could have
affected your results

**Think about real-world applications of insulation – you will need to make these connections in the
FINAL conclusion.