There’s Energy in That Nut
Hannah Rae Hendra
3rd Grade, Age 9
April 29, 2007
Misawa, Japan
Scientific Investigation
Objective
Determine how much energy is in various
types of nuts through heating of water by
burning the nuts
 Perform similar experiment with
marshmallows
 Document results
 Have fun

Scientific Investigation
Experiment Hypothesis

The brazil nut will burn longest because it is
the largest.

Marshmallows will be comparable to the
nuts.
Scientific Investigation
Research

Internet Google Search provided Several
Different Experiment Types

Keywords: “Science Experiment Nuts”
– 1,120,000 results in 0.11 seconds

Chose the following as a basis:
http://www.woodrow.org/teachers/chemistry/institutes/198
8/foodheat.html
Scientific Investigation
Search Results
Scientific Investigation
Procedure
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Measure 50ml of water in beaker.
Pour the water into a metal measuring cup.
Measure the starting temperature of the water.
Position the nut under the water and light it.
Start the timer and watch for the nut to burn out.
Once the nut is done burning, stop the timer and
record the temperature.
Scientific Investigation
The Experiment (1)
The Nuts
Precisely Measuring
The Water
Scientific Investigation
Observing the
Process
The Experiment (2)
Precisely Documenting
Results
Explaining the Experiment
to Inquisitive Neighbors
Scientific Investigation
Experiment Results (1)
Starting Water Temp
Duration
Ending Water Temp
Change in Water Temp
Almond Walnut
Hazelnut
70 oF
64 oF
4m 23s 4m 48s
165 oF 163 oF
95 oF
99 oF
61 oF
3m 32s
151 oF
90 oF
Scientific Investigation
Experiment Results (2)
Starting Water Temp
Duration
Peanut
Brazil
Cashew
60 oF
62 oF
57 oF
2m 40s 11m 57s
3m 10s
Ending Water Temp
134 oF
194 oF
154 oF
Change in Water Temp
74 oF
132 oF
97 oF
Scientific Investigation
Experiment Results (3)
Starting Water Temp
Miniature
Marshmallow
56 oF
Standard
Marshmallow
55 oF
Duration
18s
50s
Ending Water Temp
64 oF
76 oF
Change in Water Temp
8 oF
21 oF
Scientific Investigation
Final Observations
The nuts burned for a long time.
 The brazil nut burned the longest.
 The marshmallows didn’t do much.
 The brazil nut had the most energy.
 The peanut had the least energy.
 The size of the nuts varied.
 This experiment was exciting.

Scientific Investigation
The Display
Scientific Investigation