Difference between pages "GCSE Physics Required Practical: Investigating Hooke's Law" and "GCSE Physics Required Practical: Investigating Thermal Insulators"

Revision as of 19:05, 18 March 2019

Key Stage 4

Meaning

Investigate the effectiveness of different thermal insulators on reducing an energy transfer by heating.

Variables

Independent Variable: Insulating material.

Dependent Variable: The temperature decrease of water after a given time.

Control Variables: The volume of water used. The initial temperature of the water. The time taken between measurements. Thickness of the insulating material.

Method


A diagram of the apparatus used in an experiment to compare the effectiveness of different thermal insulators.

Fill a can with hot water (above 80°C).
Place a thermometer in the water and wait until the temperature reaches 80°C.
Begin a stopwatch when the temperature is 80°C then read the temperature every 30 seconds for 5 minutes.
Repeat steps 1-3 with a can covered each type of insulating material.

Improving Accuracy

Place the cans on a heatproof mat to reduce the thermal energy lost to the table surface by conduction.

Place a lid over the cans to reduce the thermal energy lost to the air by evaporation.

Complete the experiments with different insulators simultaneously so that a change in the temperature of the laboratory does not affect the results.

Improving Precision

Use a thermometer with a higher resolution.

Use a data logger rather than a thermometer.

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
 ==Key Stage 4==
 ===Meaning===
-Investigate the relationship between the [[extension]] of a [[Coil Spring|spring]] and the [[force]] applied to that [[Coil Spring|spring]].
+Investigate the effectiveness of different [[Thermal Insulator|thermal insulators]] on reducing an  [[Energy Transfer|energy transfer]] by [[heating]].
-===Experiment===
+===Variables===
-====Variables====
+: [[Independent Variable]]: [[Thermal Insulator|Insulating material]].
-: [[Independent Variable]]: The [[force]] applied to the [[Coil Spring|spring]].
+: [[Dependent Variable]]: The [[temperature]] decrease of [[water]] after a given [[time]].
-: [[Dependent Variable]]: The [[extension]] of the [[Coil Spring|spring]].
+: [[Control Variable]]s: The [[Volume (Space)|volume]] of [[water]] used. The initial [[temperature]] of the [[water]]. The [[time]] taken between [[measurement]]s. Thickness of the [[Thermal Insulator|insulating material]].
-: [[Control Variable]]s: The [[Coil Spring|spring]] being used.
-====Method====
+===Method===
 {| class="wikitable"
 |-
-|[[File:RequiredPracticalHookesLaw1.png|center|400px]]
+|[[File:RequiredPracticalThermalInsulation1.png|center|600px]]
-| style="height:20px; width:200px; text-align:center;" |A [[diagram]] of the [[apparatus]] used to investigate the effect of a [[force]] on the [[extension]] of a [[Coil Spring|spring]].
+|-
+| style="height:20px; width:200px; text-align:center;" |A [[diagram]] of the [[apparatus]] used in an [[experiment]] to compare the effectiveness of different [[Thermal Insulator|thermal insulators]].
 |}
-: Set up the equipment as shown in the [[diagram]].
+#Fill a can with hot [[water]] (above 80°C).
-#[[Measure]] the original length of the [[Coil Spring|spring]] using a [[ruler]].
+#Place a [[thermometer]] in the [[water]] and wait until the [[temperature]] reaches 80°C.
-#Attach a known [[weight]] (approximately 1N) to the [[Coil Spring|spring]].
+#Begin a [[stopwatch]] when the [[temperature]] is 80°C then [[Reading|read]] the [[temperature]] every 30 seconds for 5 minutes.
-#[[Measure]] the new length of the [[Coil Spring|spring]].
+#Repeat steps 1-3 with a can covered each type of [[Thermal Insulator|insulating material]].
-#Calculate the [[extension]] of the [[Coil Spring|spring]] by [[subtract]]ing the original length from the new length of the [[Coil Spring|spring]].
-#Repeat steps 2-4 up to around 6N.
-#Plot a [[graph]] with the [[force]] of [[weight]] on the [[y-axis]] and the [[extension]] on the [[x-axis]]. The [[gradient]] of this [[graph]] will be the [[Spring Constant|spring constant]] of the [[Coil Spring|coil spring]].
-====Improving [[Accuracy]]====
-: Calculate the [[weight]] added by [[measure|measuring]] its [[mass]] each time and using the equation <math>W=mg</math> with <math>g=9.8</math>. This will give a more [[accuracy|accurate]] knowledge of the [[weight]] rather than relying on the number printed on the [[weight]]s.
-: Add a [[Fiduciary Marker|fiduciary marker]] to the bottom of the [[Coil Spring|coil spring]] to prevent any [[error]] caused by not [[read]]ing the [[ruler]] from [[Eye Level|eye level]].
-: Ensure the [[Coil Spring|spring]] is not moving when taking [[measure]]ments of it's length.
-{| class="wikitable"
-|-
-|[[File:RequiredPracticalHookesLaw2.png|center|400px]]
-| style="height:20px; width:200px; text-align:center;" |A [[Fiduciary Marker|fiduciary marker]] can be added to improve [[accuracy]] and [[precision]] of the length [[measure]]ments.
-|}
-====Improving [[Precision]]====
+===Improving [[Accuracy]]===
-: Calculate the [[weight]] correct to two [[Significant Figure|significant figures]] by [[measure|measuring]] its [[mass]] to two [[Significant Figures|significant figures]] each time and using the equation <math>W=mg</math> with <math>g=9.8</math>. This will give a more [[precise]] knowledge of the [[weight]] rather than relying on the number printed on the [[weight]]s which may be [[precise]] to only one [[Significant Figure|significant figure]].
+: Place the cans on a [[Heatproof Mat|heatproof mat]] to reduce the [[Thermal Energy Store|thermal energy]] lost to the table surface by [[Thermal Conduction|conduction]].
-: Add a [[Fiduciary Marker|fiduciary marker]] with a fine point to the bottom of the [[Coil Spring|coil spring]] to give a [[precise]] [[read]]ing of the length of the [[Coil Spring|coil spring]].
+: Place a lid over the cans to reduce the [[Thermal Energy Store|thermal energy]] lost to the [[air]] by [[evaporation]].
+: Complete the experiments with different [[Thermal Insulator|insulators]] simultaneously so that a change in the [[temperature]] of the [[laboratory]] does not affect the [[results]].
+===Improving [[Precision]]===
+: Use a [[thermometer]] with a higher [[resolution]].
+: Use a [[Data Logger|data logger]] rather than a [[thermometer]].