Force, Motion and Energy

Heat Gain Heat Loss

Force, Motion and Energy

Duration: 60 minutes

Notes / Activity

Discrepant events:
Using identical blocks to melt the ice, see which melts the ice faster 

 

Demo Experiment activity or Group activity:
Using spoons of different materials to melt the butter 

  • 4-PS3-2. Make observations to provide evidence that energy can be transferred from place to place by sound, light, heat, and electric currents. 
  • 4-PS3-4. Apply scientific ideas to design, test, and refine a device that converts energy from one form to another.*

By the end of this lesson, the student should able to:

  • Identify good conductors of heat
  • Identify poor conductors of heat

Good conductors of heat    Poor conductors of heat   transfer heat readily 

Lesson Plan

Lesson Introduction – Explore

Duration: 45 min

Prepare before lesson:

  • 3 materials: styrofoam, aluminum, cardboard
  • Beaker of water
  • Kettle (to boil water)
  • Thermometer
  • Stopwatch
  • 3 materials: styrofoam, aluminum, cardboard
  • Beaker of water
  • Kettle (to boil water)
  • Thermometer
  • Stopwatch
  • Ask students if they had to pick up a hot object would it be safer to use a pot holder or a strong steel gauntlet, like what a knight might wear. (Student response might include the metal gauntlet because it is stronger.)
  • Show students the 3 materials (styrofoam, aluminum, cardboard) that will be wrapped around a beaker of boiling water. Have students make and write predictions about which material will retain the heat the longest.
  • Determine the temperature in the classroom and record. Bring a measured amount of water in a beaker to a boil. Remove the beaker from the heat source and take the initial temperature of the water and record. The thermometer should stay in the beaker for the students to observe the change in temperature as the water cools.
  • Have students note and record how long it takes for the boiling water to reach room temperature without any material around the beaker. 
  • Bring the same amount of water to a boil again. When the beaker is removed from the heat source, put aluminum foil around the beaker and observe the temperature as the water cools to room temperature. 
  • Record how long it takes. Boil the water again. This time put Styrofoam around the beaker when it is removed from the heat source. Observe the temperature as the water cools to room temperature. Record how long it takes. Boil the water again. This time put cardboard around the beaker and observe the temperature as the water cools to room temperature. Record how long it takes.

Explain

Duration: 15 min

Prepare before lesson 

  • 3 spoons of different material (metal, plastic, wood)
  • Bowl of warm water
  • 3 spoonfuls of butter
  • 3 spoons of different material (metal, plastic, wood)
  • Bowl of warm water
  • 3 spoonfuls of butter
  • Have students look at the results they have recorded. Share their answers with the class. (Student responses may include: The Styrofoam retains the heat the best. Cardboard and the foil do retain heat as long.) Get students to explain their answers.  
  •  Explain to students that some materials are better conductors of heat than others. Good conductors transfer heat readily through materials and poor conductors do not transfer heat readily. Have them think which materials, styrofoam, aluminum and cardboard are good conductors of heat and poor conductors of heat.  
  • Ask students to suggest other materials that they are familiar with that are good conductors of heat and those that are poor conductors of heat. 
  • Launch an interactive to explain the importance of choosing materials that are good conductors of heat and poor conductors of heat for making objects like the cooking pan. 
  • Launch an interactive to choose the appropriate materials to make tools such as a frying pan based on how well they conduct and retain heat. 
  • Have students articulate the concepts:
  • Good conductors transfer heat readily through materials
  • Poor conductors do not transfer heat readily.

Resources

Revise from Heat gain heat loss lesson

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