The Heat is On

        I am conducting an experiment where I determine the best insulator for keeping water warm in a mug.   In order to keep the warm air from rising, I must have an insulator.  Tillery, Enger, & Ross (2008) state, the best insulators are wool cloth, wool, Styrofoam, and glass.  However, Tillery, Enger, & Ross (2008) state the best insulator is a vacuum.    I am conducting an experiment to find which material will make the best insulator.

   I began my experiment by gathering my materials.  I have four mugs, a thermometer, a napkin, tin foil, wax paper, a wash cloth and rubber bands.  I used tap water at a temperature of 118 degrees to begin my experiment.  My initial hypothesis was that the tin foil would be the best insulator.  I always use tin foil to keep my food warm.  Therefore, I thought that the tin foil would be the best insulator.  However, Tillery, Enger, & Ross (2008) reiterate that Styrofoam, wool and glass make the best insulators.    Therefore, based on this fact, I feel that the wash cloth will be the best insulator.

    To begin my experiment, I immediately placed the hot water in the mugs.  I quickly covered the mugs with the tin foil, napkin, wax paper, and washcloth and secured them with a rubber band.  I set the timer for thirty minutes.  After thirty minutes, I took the temperature of the water in each mug.  To my surprise, the temperature of the water in the mugs that were covered with the napkin, tin foil and wax paper were the same, 90 degrees Fahrenheit.  The water in the mug covered with the washcloth was 96 degrees Fahrenheit.  My hypothesis was correct.  I thought the wash cloth would be the best insulator based on my prior knowledge.  However, I thought there would be varying temperatures among the other insulators.  I repeated the experiment several times to make sure my readings were correct.  Each time the temperatures were within one degree of 90 degrees Fahrenheit.  The results remained the same for the washcloth.  Tillery, Enger & Ross (2008) state, cloth is a good insulator due to the many small air spaces.  This also explains why contractors use fiberglass insulation to keep heat from escaping from homes.  The many small air spaces in the fiberglass insulation keep heat from escaping.

     I learned some useful information from this experiment.  I learned that if I want to keep my food warm.  The best insulator would be a wool cloth, as opposed to using tin foil.  If I want to keep my coffee or hot tea warm, the best insulator would be a vacuum.  Daniel (2012) sates that creating a vacuum in a thermos would not allow any of the heat to escape.  Therefore, keeping my beverage warmer longer.

 

References

Daniel (2012). Vacuum bottles and carafes for storing brewed coffee.  Retrieved from http://www. coffeefaq.com

Tillery, B. W., Enger, E. D., & Ross, F. C. (2008). Integrated science (4th ed.). New York: McGraw-Hill.