This document summarizes a student assignment on using a data logger to measure the energy content of different foods. It includes: - An introduction to data loggers and their uses in environmental monitoring. - An experiment where students measured the temperature change of water heated by burning small amounts of different foods (biscuits, Koko Crunch cereal, candlenuts), to calculate the energy released. Candlenuts had the highest average energy content. - A discussion of heat energy transfer and the relationship between energy absorbed during burning and final water temperature. - An explanation of how understanding energy content can help people count daily calorie intake and maintain a balanced diet for health.

1. FACULTY OF SCIENCE AND MATHEMATICS
BIOLOGY DEPARTMENT
SBI 3013
INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY IN BIOLOGY
ASSIGNMENT TITLE : DATA LOGGER
Prepared by :-
LECTURER’S NAME :-
ENCIK AZMI IBRAHIM
NAME MATRIC NUMBER
NABILA ALIYA BINTI SHAHROL D20152071968
SITI NOR AMIRA MOHD AZLI D20152071969
SITI QHALILAH RADIN D20152071984

2. 2
TABLE OF CONTENT
No. Title Page Number
1.0 Introduction to data logger 2
2.0 Engage (Introduction of energy from burning food) 3
3.0 Empower (Planning and doing experiment) 4
3.1 Hypothesis 4
3.2 Apparatus 4
3.3 Procedure 4
3.4 Results 5-7
3.5 Discussion 8
3.6 Conclusion 9
4.0 Enhance (Application of the activities in daily life) 9
5.0 References 10

3. 3
1.0 Introduction to data logger
Data loggers are electronic devices which automatically monitor and record environmental
parameters over a period of time, allowing conditions to be measured, documented,
analysed and validated. Data loggers are usually compact, powered by battery and they are
equipped with an internal processor, data storage and one or more sensors. Interestingly,
these devices can be positioned indoors, outdoors, underwater and temperature – controlled
environments. They are able to record data up to months at a time without supervision. A
data logger may be a single - unit, stand - alone device with internal sensors with the size
that fits in the palm of a hand or it may be a multi - channel data collection instrument with
one or more external sensors. To receive the information, data loggers are equipped with a
sensors and a computer chip to store the data. The information stored in the computer chip
when are transferred into a computer for data analysis.
These devices are able to measure air temperature, relative humidity, AC/DC current
and voltage, differential pressure, time-of-use, light intensity, water temperature, water level,
dissolved oxygen, soil moisture, rainfall, wind speed and direction, leaf wetness, pulse
signals, room occupancy, plug load and more depending on the particular data logger.
This equipment is very much helping since nowadays the teaching and learning in
the classrooms are based on technology. Data logging can be done manually by human but
it is very time consuming. Let say we wanted to study the temperature changes over the
course of an hour in a centrally heated room using a timer, thermometer, pen and paper.
Using an electronic data logger is much more effective, reliable than taking periodically
manual readings and more accurate as there are no likelihood of human error. By using this
device, data logging become more convenience and save our time. Besides, data logging
can be used in remote or dangerous situations and does not require supervision. Data
logging can be carried out 24 hours a day and up to 365 days of year.
However, data logging comes with disadvantages also. The main disadvantage of
using data logger is that the price of this equipment is very expensive. Furthermore, this
equipment will only take readings at the logging interval which has been set up. If
unexpected accidents occur between the recordings, the data will not be collected and the
whole purposes of the experiment are ruined. The sensors of the data logger are sensitive
and they must be calibrated or they will be likely taking the wrong readings.

4. 4
2.0 Engage
Did you know that all food that you take, has their own energy content? Our body needs food
for running, working and doing others activities. All of this work, can be performed well if we
consume enough food that supply energy to our body. Energy content refer to the amount of
heat produced by burning 1 gram of substance and is measured in Joules per gram (J/ G).
The diagram below show one example of energy content in food:-
Diagram 2.0 : Eergy content values in food
Therefore, in order to study about these energy content in food, we conduct an experiment
for investigate the energy from a burning food. Our engage process can be represented by
the figure below:-
Figure 2.0 (b) : Engage ( Does food has energy ?)

5. 5
3.0 Empower
3.1 Hypothesis
If the change in temperature is greater when the water is heated with the use of the
fire caught by the food substance, then the energy content in the food substance is
higher because the heat energy is greater, since the heat energy is absorbed by the
water when the fire is kept under the test tube containing water. The formula
indicates that if the change in temperature is greater when the mass of the
substances and the volume of water are constant, then the heat energy is higher.
The conclusion drawn by my hypothesis is
3.2 Apparatus
Test Tube , measuring Cylinder , temperature sensor ,water ,needle with handle,
scalpel (for cutting the substances into exactly 0.5 grams), test tube holder, burner ,
food items that are used to conduct the experiment, the substances which are
biscuits, Koko Crunch and candlenut.
3.3 Procedure
1) 20ml water in the measuring cylinder was measured and pour in the test tube.
2) The test tube was placed in the holder and was locked tightly.
3) The weight of each substances are measured exactly 0.5 grams using the
electrical balance.
4) The initial temperature of water was measured using the temperature sensor.
5) A food substance was poke through using the needle with the handle and the fire
was turn on.
6) The food substance on the needle was set to the fire on the burner.
7) The food substance was placed under the test tube once the food substance
started burn, so the water inside it can absorb heat.
8) The temperature change was measured in the water using the temperature
sensor
9) The energy content in the food item calculated by using the following formula:
Volume of water constant
Volume of substances
constant
Higher temperature of
water
Higher energy
Volume of water X Change in temperature X 4.2
Mass of the substances

6. 6
3.4 Results :
3.4 (a) : Reading of water temperature (°C) and energy content (kJ) for biscuits
Diagram 3.3 : Set up for experiment of energy from burning food

7. 7
3.4 (b) : Reading of water temperature (°C) and energy content (kJ) for Koko Crunch
3.4 (c) : Reading of water temperature (°C) and energy content (kJ) for candlenut
3.4 (d) : Average energy (kJ) for the biscuit , Koko Crunch and candle nut

8. 8
3.4 (d) : Graph of energy content for biscuits
3.4 (e) : Graph of energy content for Koko Crunch
3.4 (f) : Graph of energy content for candlenut

9. 9
3.5 Discussion
From this experiment, three types of food which biscuits, candlenut and Koko Crunch
were tested to determine the energy content in each food. Based on the data
obtained, candlenut has the highest average energy which is 2.476 kJ while the Koko
Crunch has the lowest energy content which is 1.204. By performing this experiment,
the amount of energy changes from trial one (T1) until trial three (T3) can be
observed. Generally, for each trial, the amount of energy absorbed when being burn
for each food increase from time to time.
For the temperature of water, we can observe the changes of initial and final
temperature of each food which increases due to supply of heat from the burning
food. Therefore, the higher amount of energy absorbed in the burning food, the
higher temperature of the water.
Question and answer :-
1) What kind of energy involve during performing this experiment?
Heat energy.
2) State the manipulated, responding and controlled variables involve in this
experiment?
Manipulated variables : Amount of heat absorbed by burning food
Responding variables : Final temperature of water
Controlled variables : Volume / mass of substance
3) Based on the result obtained from this experiment, does the amount of
energy absorbed effects the temperature of water?
Yes
4) What is the relationship between the amount of energy absorbed by
burning food and the temperature of water?
The higher amount of energy absorbed by the burning food, the higher temperature
of the water.
5) Based on the graph, which one has the highest energy content in food?
Candlenut.

10. 10
3.6 Conclusion :
Hypothesis is accepted. If the change in temperature is greater when the water is
heated with the use of the fire caught by the food substance, then the energy content
in the food substance is higher because the heat energy is greater, since the heat
energy is absorbed by the water when the fire is kept under the test tube containing
water. The formula indicates that if the change in temperature is greater when the
mass of the substances and the volume of water are constant, then the heat energy
is higher.
4.0 Enhance (Application of this activity in daily life)
This experiment can be adapted in our daily life as we need to count the calories
intake in our body. The food we eat gives our bodies the information and materials
they need to function properly. If we did not get the right information, our metabolic
process suffer and our health declines. Our digestive system and the cells in our
body break down the food and gradually oxidize the resulting molecules in a series of
chemical reactions to release energy that our cells can use and store. If we consume
proteins, the enzyme in our body will synthesize the protein into amino acids and
then the amino acid will be converted into muscle.
The nutrients in food enable the cells in our bodies to perform their necessary
functions. In other words, nutrients give our bodies instructions about how to function.
Components of the diet have different sources and functions. An unbalanced diet can
lead to deficiency diseases such as diabetes type II, obesity, heart disease and
stroke. To prevent the onset of these diseases, we need to know how much calories
intake that our body needs and energy needs vary according to age and activity.
An average woman needs to eat about 2000 calories per day to maintain her
weight and 1500 calories to lose one pound of weight per week. On the other hand,
an average man needs 2500 calories to maintain his weight and 2000 calories to lose
a pound of weight per week. Estimated needs for young children range from 100 to
2000 calories per day and the range for older children and adolescents varies
substantially from 1400 to 3200 calories per day, with boy generally having higher
calorie needs than girls. However, this calories intake depends on numerous factors.
These include age, height, current weight, activity levels, metabolic health and
several others.

11. 11
5.0 References
Dietary guidelines. Retrieved from https://health.gov/dietaryguidelines/2015/
guidelines/appendix-2/
Gunnars, K. How many calories should you eat per day to lose weight? Retrieved
from https://authoritynutrition.com/how-many-calories-per-day/