There are 3 main reasons for us to do this investigation. They are:

To get a fundamental understanding of ‘WHAT IS SCIENCE’.

To earn richer knowledge in day-to-day Science, specifically, on the subject of ‘THERMO-INSULATION’.

To learn how to observe, analyze and draw reasonable conclusion on scientific findings.

The objective for us to do this experiment is:

– To compare the thermo-insulation properties of 4 different materials, including •Newspaper•Cloth•Aluminum foil •Plastic box

Our hypothesis on the experiment of ‘WHAT IS THE BEST DESIGN OF THERMO BOTTLE?’ is that the Aluminum foil would be the best kind of thermo material among the 4 categories of wrapping materials:

• Newspaper• Cloth• Aluminum foil• Plastic box

Independent Variable:

Materials used to wrap up the bottle of 100℃ water in order to keep the temperature of water constant

Dependent Variable:

The temperature of the wrapped up bottle of 100℃ water after 10 minutes

Controlled Variables:

•The temperature and the volume of water•The type of beaker used •The type of stopper used•The temperature of the site to hold the experiment•The time for wrapping up the beaker of water by the materials

Apparatus:

Bunsen burner Quantity: 1

Conical flask 1

Stopper 1

Wire gauze 1

Heat-proof mat 1

Safety glasses 4

Stop watch 1

Thermometer 1

Tripod 1

Measuring cylinder

1

Material:

Matches Quantity:

2 boxes

Cloth 1 piece

Plastic box 1

Aluminum foil 1 roll

Newspaper 4 pieces

Towel 1 piece

1. Use the measuring cylinder to measure 200mL water, then pour them into the conical flask.

2. Put the conical flask on top of the set of apparatus for heating the water up.

3. Put on the safety glasses and check if the apparatus for heating up the water (i.e. the conical flask, wire gauze, tripod, gas tap, Bunsen burner and heat-proof mat ) is well-prepared for the experiment.

4. Light a match and put it well above the chimney of the Bunsen burner. Then, turn the gas tap on.

5. Put the Bunsen burner right under the conical flask. Start heating the water.

6. Put the thermometer into the water. Check the temperature of water from time to time.

7. Turn off the gas tap when the temperature of water reaches 100℃. Then put the conical flask on the bench carefully.

8. Use the stopper to stop the opening of the conical flask to prevent the water from cooling down quickly.

10. Put the plastic box on the bench and wait 10 minutes for the result of the experiment.

9. Put the bottle of hot water into the plastic box (i.e. a thermo material). Cover the whole surface of the conical flask with the thermo material.

12. Use the thermometer to measure the temperature of the water in the conical flask.

11. Use the stop watch to measure the time interval. Then take the conical flask out of the thermo material and plug off the stopper after 10 minutes.

14. Pour away the hot water and cool down the conical flask with tap water. Do the other 2 trials.

13. For the first trial on the thermo material (i.e. the plastic box), record the result with the temperature being recorded.

15. Repeat steps 1 to 14 for the other 3 materials (i.e. cloth, Aluminum foil and newspaper). Do three trials for each.

Title: The relationship between different types of thermo material used to wrap up the bottle of 100 ℃ water and the temperature change in water after 10 minutes (i.e. Thermo-insulation comparison between different types of thermo material)

Materials used to wrap up the bottle of 100℃ water

Temperature of the wrapped-up bottle of 100℃ water after 10 minutes (℃)

Trial 1 Trial 2 Trial 3 Average

Newspaper 68 69 68 68.3

Cloth 83.5 84 83 83.5

Aluminum foil 78 77.5 77 77.5

Plastic box 82 83 85 83.3

A Graph Showing the Insulation Comparisonbetween Different Types of Thermo Materials

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20.0

40.0

60.0

80.0

100.0

Newspaper Cloth Aluminium foil Plastic box

Materials used to wrap up the bottle of 100℃ water

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From the graph, we found that, among the 4 different types of thermo material, CLOTH can maintain the water temperature the longest (i.e. from 100℃ down to 83.5℃) on average within the same length of time (i.e. 10 minutes ). That is to say, it is the best thermo insulator amongst all.

Secondly, we have seen that, among the 4 different types of thermo material, NEWSPAPER is the worst, with which the 100℃ water dropped to 68.3℃ in only 10 minutes on the average. That is to say, it is the worst thermo insulator amongst all.

Hence, our hypothesis is incorrect.

---ERRORS---1. Quite out of the group’s pr

esumption, the experiment has run out of time.

2. Due to not-well coordination, the bottle of water was cooled down earlier than planned when we finished the heating, so the temperature had not accurately reached 100 when w℃e wrapped the bottle up with other thermo materials for the trials.

---IMPROVEMENTS-

--1. We should have an in-

depth discussion before the experiment and plan to separate the group into two teams to do the trials simultaneously.

2. We should prepare the apparatus needed well about 3 minutes before the water is boiled and try to take turns to wrap up the bottle of hot water.

From the result of the experiment, we realize that Cloth is the best thermo insulator among the newspaper, cloth, aluminum foil and plastic box as it can comparatively maintain the hot water at the highest temperature for the longest length of time. Therefore the best design of thermo bottle is to have it wrapped up by the material of cloth.

The trials on the experiment have given us strong support of our findings. Our in-depth group discussion, the information acquired from the Net and the studies from relevant Science books have given us some fundamental ideas on this experiment. Besides, our past experiences on similar topics and previous learning on the subject are also contributing.

We trust that the testing results are reliable and convincing because several trials on every type of material were carried out, and we had followed every single step carefully during the experiment. Also, photos have been taken and the testing results have been duly recorded while discussions on improvements were made.