Questioning+and+Posing+Problems

Questioning and Posing Problems
After performing our first calorimeter can experiment, it was evident that our results were not accurate due to a loss of heat. This first experiment involved finding the amount of energy in peanuts and potato chips, and our next self-designed experiment required us to find the amount of energy in various alcohols.

We were presented with almost the exact same materials, a soda can, a thermometer, a ring stand, the only main difference was the use of an alcohol burner as opposed to setting a peanut or chip on fire and holding it under the can. This provided more convenience, but we were still posed with the problem of inaccuracy due to heat loss. The heat loss was due to convection and conduction through the air and the metal.

Questioning this problem, we initially wanted to build a calorimeter that did not rely on a metal soda can, but we realized that the only other two options were beyond our reach, or extremely dangerous if reacted with fire. The soda can it was. The only other solution was to attempt to trap the heat from the flame so that it would be properly carried onto the can, and not escaped through the air. Mrs. Knowles told us that we had aluminum foil, and with that in mind, we created a foil cylinder to place on top of the alcohol burner and at the bottom of the can.

Now, to be honest, this foil cylinder didn't improve the accuracy that drastically. Heat continued to escape through the air and metal, but it did contribute to a minor improvement. However, it is not the success of our experiment that I want to celebrate, but instead, the success of our ability to question and devise solutions to the problems we were presented with.