2. This experiment has been done to determine
which coffee cup keeps the temperature of the
liquid most stable.
3. I hypothethise that the stainless steel mug will
keep the Liquid the hottest and that the paper
cup will lose heat the quickest. This is due to
the fact that stainless steel is a better conductor
of heat.
4. Independent Variable: Coffee Cups
Dependent Variables: Temperature of the
liquid.
Controlled Variables: Time, outside
temperature, amount of liquid used, starting
temperature, using the same coffee cups for
repeat trials, thermometers & type of liquid.
5. Coffee cups
Measuring cup
Thermometers
Paper &pen
Hot Water
Kettle
6. 1) Set up cups, thermometers, kettle and recorded
outside temperature.
2) Boiled the Kettle.
3) Measure water temperature.
4) Measure out ½ cup of water and distribute to
each cup.
5) Put thermometer in cup and screw on the lid.
6) Measure temperature every 5 minutes.
7) Repeat steps 1-6, 2 times.
8) Average and graph results.
8. The paper cup was the worst performer,
resulting in a temperature drop of 1.26 C per
minute over the 30 minute period.
The temperature of the liquid within the plastic
cup dropped at a rate of 1.13 C per minute.
The metal cup gave the best results with a drop
of only 1.06 C per minute.
9.
10. The paper cup was the worst performer
because paper is a poorer insulator when
compared to plastic and metal (Dawson &
Venville, 2007).
Metal is a more efficient due to the fact that the
vacuum seal traps the heat within the cup and
metal is a greater heat conductor than plastic
(Kutz, 1968).
11. Dawson, V., &Venville, G.(Eds.). (2007). The art
of teaching primary science. Crows Nest, NSW:
Allen & Unwin.
Kutz, M. (1968). Temperature Control.
Sydney, NSW: John Wiley &Sons, Inc.