By Danielle
Hill
Thermal insulation refers to the ability of a material to resist
the transfer of heat energy. For example, a sweater provides thermal insulation
to its wearer, reducing the amount of heat energy transferring from the body to
the cool surrounding air. For a science project that explores the fundamental
principles of thermodynamics, examine the thermal insulation of various
materials under various conditions.
Comparing Insulation
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Insulation is important in constructing homes
and other buildings, as it allows interior spaces to maintain comfortable
temperatures despite inclement temperatures outdoors. To identify the most
effective means of insulating a home, compare the different types of common insulation.
You'll need samples of vermiculite, fiberglass, rock wool, cellulose, and
polyurethane or polystyrene foam insulation. To test the efficiency of each
type, use them to line small boxes of equivalent dimensions. Set a bottle of
hot water inside each box, checking that the water is the same temperature in
each case. After a set amount of time, measure the water temperatures and note
which insulation allowed the greatest heat loss.
Wearable Insulation
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Insulation also is highly important in clothing
design. To determine the most effective materials for insulation, run a trial
along the same lines as your construction test. However, in this case,
construct linings out of common clothing materials. Use wool and cotton socks,
down jackets, and scarves, hats, coats and sweaters of various materials. Make
sure the boxes you use are equal in size and small enough that you can use
socks as lining. As an extension, try to find the combination of materials that
is the most insulating and the material that provides the most insulation for
the least bulk.
Culinary Insulation
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To keep hot foods hot and cold foods cold,
insulation is highly useful during storage or transport. For a practical
project, design a series of trials to identify the best material for wrapping up
baked dishes before carrying them to a dinner party. You might test traditional
materials found in the kitchen, such as aluminum foil, plastic cling film,
butcher paper and wax paper. In addition, you could try common materials, such
as bubble wrap, newspaper or tea towels. Use each of these materials to wrap
around a bottle filled with water heated to a certain temperature. Measure the
change in temperature over time, in each bottle, to determine the best
insulator.
Designing for Insulation
Material isn't the only factor to determine
insulation; design also can strongly influence the effectiveness of an
insulating system. In order to isolate the importance of design, use a single
material and try forming it into various shapes and forms to insulate a set volume
of hot water. For example, you might decide to insulate one liter of water
using aluminum foil. Measure how much the insulation improves with thicker
layers of foil, and whether there's a point past which increasing the thickness
ceases to improve the insulation.
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