SBA # YY MM DD

10 2022 03 03

Title: Conduction in metals

Aim: To investigate how metals conduct heat using the ball and ring apparatus.

Material/Apparatus:
● gauze
● beaker
● ball and ring
● water
● bunsen burner
● glove
● lighter

Procedure:
1. The ball and ring apparatus was observed by placing the ball through the
ring.
2. The ball was placed over the flame for approximately 2 minutes.
3. The ball was placed through the ring.
4. Observations were made.
5. The ball was dipped in water.
6. All observations were made.

FOR TEACHERS ONLY

SKILLS ASSESSED M/M ORR A/I P/D D CL/F
MARK OBTAINED
SBA # YY MM DD
10 2022 03 03

Diagram

Observations/Results:

FOR TEACHERS ONLY

SKILLS ASSESSED M/M ORR A/I P/D D CL/F
MARK OBTAINED
 SBA # YY MM DD
10 2022 03 03

Observations/Results:

Table showing ball & ring apparatus before and after being heated
Before being After being heated for After being placed into a
heated 2 minutes beaker of water

Reaction of The metal ball was The metal ball had A fizzy reaction in which
ball & ring small enough to fit expanded due to being bubbles were produced.
apparatus through the metal heated, therefore not The ball was cooled, being
ring. fitting through the ring. able to fit through the ring.

Analysis:
Before the ball was heated over the bunsen burner, the metal ball was able to fit
through the ring. After the metal ball was heated, it was unable to fit through the
ring because it expanded. The kinetic energy in the atoms of the metal ball is
increased, causing the atoms to move faster, taking up more space, causing the
metal ball to expand. The metal ball was then cooled by being placed in a beaker
of water. Bubbles were produced due to heat being transferred from the heated
metal ball to the water. After being placed in water, the metal ball was able to fit
through the ring because when it was placed in the beaker of water, the heat
energy transferred from the atoms in the metal ball, to the the water, causing the
temperature of the water to increase and the temperature of the metal ball to
decrease, therefore decreasing the kinetic energy in the atoms causing them to take
up less space. Metals are also good conductors of heat. Conduction is the process
in which heat energy is transmitted through collisions between neighboring
molecules or atoms. When the metal ball was heated, the delocalized electrons in
the metal move towards the positive side, thus colliding with other electrons
transferring conducting the heat energy through the metal. If the metal ball was
touched directly after being heated, heat would be transferred from the metal ball
to the hand, causing the hand to burn.

FOR TEACHERS ONLY

SKILLS ASSESSED M/M ORR A/I P/D D CL/F
MARK OBTAINED
SBA # YY MM DD
10 2022 03 03

Conclusion:
In conclusion, how metals conduct heat was observed. It was observed that the
metal ball expanded due to the atoms gaining kinetic energy and colliding with
other atoms causing the heat energy to be conducted through the metal.

Reflection;
This experiment is relevant to society because using this experiment, it was
concluded that most metals are good conductors of heat. This is relevant when
purchasing kitchenware, to ensure that the metal used is able to conduct heat well
as well as ensure that the handle is an insulator to prevent burns. From this
experiemnt, I learnt how metals are able to conduct heat when their delocalized
electrons move towards the positive side coming in contact, with other electrons,
by which heat is conducted through the metal, as well as causing the metal to
expand due to an increase in energy, causing the atoms to cover a larger surface
area.

FOR TEACHERS ONLY

SKILLS ASSESSED M/M ORR A/I P/D D CL/F
MARK OBTAINED