The
heat is escaping!
Trap the Heat!
You’ll
never contain
me!!
Build the Best Insulator
The Challenge: To insulate a 12 oz. aluminum can to prevent loss of thermal energy.
● The can will be filled with very hot water and you want it to stay that way!
● Use concepts and examples we discussed in class relating to insulators and the three types of heat
transfer.
● Design and build your device using common household items.
- Choose carefully and be safe
- Sorry, no insulating spray foams!
● You will measure the temperature change over ten minutes, the lowest amount of change wins.
The Requirements:
● 12 oz. aluminum beverage can.
● Insulated can MAY NOT EXCEED 20 cm. in diameter (across) or 22 cm. in height.
● The can must be easily removed from the insulating material to allow for pouring out of the water
and changing of the design.
.625 in
● An opening must allow water to be poured into the can using a funnel. A sample size of
or
1.6 cm
the opening is to the right.
● When closed, your device must allow a thermometer to fit easily into the can’s opening so
readings can be taken. The thermometers are about the same size as a regular pencil.
Step 1:
● Brainstorm: Explore your house for materials, talk to your friends and family, and think about
how you can insulate a soda can to prevent heat transfer from the can to the outside
environment. Explore the links on my website to get some ideas.
Step 2:
● Make a sketch of the device you’d like to build to insulate your can, including what materials
you will use and why. This will be done in class on: week of 2/27 - 3/3.
Step 3:
● Construct your insulating device at home.
● Bring your finished device into class on: class 1: Thurs. 3/9; classes 2, 3, 4, 5: Fri. 3/10.
Step 4:
● 1st Trial: Test your can in class. Record and graph your data.
● Write down your observations about why you think your device worked or didn’t work.
Describe what you want to change to improve your design.
Step 5:
● Make ONE change to your device. (Remember, it is important in an experiment to change only
one variable so you can test its effect.) This will be done in class. You can either swap a
material with a neighbor, the teacher will have some materials available, or you could bring
something else in. This will be done on: week of 3/13-3/17.
Step 6:
● 2nd Trial: Test your can in class. Record your data. Graph your data.
● Have the teacher check off the dimensions (diameter and height) of your final device.
Step 7:
● Assemble your portfolio. Final due date: class 1,2: Wed. 3/22; classes 3, 4, 5: Thurs. 3/23.
Portfolio
The majority of your grade for this project will be based on your finished portfolio, which will
include:
Cover page. (Includes title of project, name, date, class)
Project info page (this sheet)
Diagram of your insulating device labelled with the dimensions and materials used.
Description of how your device uses your knowledge of the types of heat transfer and how the
materials chosen will prevent heat loss. (Labelled on your sketch or written on a separate page.)
Data tables showing the temperatures of your two trials and the control can
Graph showing your two trials compared to the control can
Explanation of what your data showed in the first trial and describe what you changed for the
second trial. Why did you choose to make that change?
Conclusion
How well did your insulated can work?
Why do you think you got the results that you did?
What else would you change to improve your device?
Remember to use scientific concepts in your conclusion (conduction,
convection and radiation…)