PURPOSE
The purpose of this experiment was to find out the effect of different
types of insulation on heat retention.
This idea interested me when I heard about the person who built his
house out of straw bales. I started wondering why he built it that
way.
The information from this experiment may be used by builders to determine
what to choose for insulation. It also may be used in future houses
because not all societies have the wealth to manufacture insulation artificially.
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HYPOTHESIS
My hypothesis is that sand will retain more heat than straw, sand, paper,
cloth batting.
I base my hypothesis on personal observations that in a basement, the
temperature will stay warmer even though heat rises because dirt or sand
is around the basement walls.
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EXPERIMENT DESIGN
The constants in this study were:
* The size of the test box.
* The amount of water.
* The size of the beaker.
* The temperature when put inside the refrigerator.
* The space used for insulation.
* The type of wood used for the test box.
The manipulated variable was the different types of insulation.
The responding variable was the temperature loss of the water in the
beaker.
To measure the responding variable I will use a Celsius thermometer.
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MATERIALS
| QUANTITY |
ITEM DESCRIPTION |
| 1 |
1000ml. beaker |
| 1 |
bottle of wood glue |
| 1 |
Celsius thermometer |
| 500ml |
boiling water |
| 1 |
sheet of ply wood 122 cm x 122 cm x 6 cm |
| 2 |
wood blocks 4 cm x 4 cm x 9 cm |
| 1 |
wood block 4 cm x 4 cm x 6.5 cm |
| 878.85 gm |
straw |
| 2494.8 gm |
cloth |
| 765.45 gm |
paper |
| 595.35 gm |
Batting insulation |
| 22680 gm |
sand |
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PROCEDURES
1. Build the outside test box.
1) Cut one piece of plywood 29 cm square for the bottom of the test
box.
2) Cut four pieces of plywood 29.5 cm long and 20.5 cm wide for the
sides of the test box.
3) Cut two pieces of wood 4 cm x 4 cm x 9 cm for the inner box stands.
4) Glue and nail the four side pieces of plywood to the bottom piece
of plywood.
5) Glue and nail the two stands inside the test box in the middle with
a 3 cm space between them.
2. Build the inside test box (the box that will contain the 1000 ml
beaker.
1) Cut one piece of plywood 15 cm square for the bottom of the test
box.
2) Cut four pieces of plywood 15.5 cm square for the sides of the test
box.
3) Glue and nail the four side pieces of plywood to the bottom piece
of plywood.
3. Build the lid for the outside test box.
1) Cut one piece of plywood 29 cm square for the bottom of the lid.
2) Cut four pieces of plywood 29.5 cm long and 7.5 wide for the sides
of the lid.
3) Cut one piece of wood 4 cm x 4 cm x 6.5 cm for the thermometer access
hole.
4) Glue and nail the four side pieces of plywood to the bottom piece
of plywood.
5) Glue the piece of wood for the access hole in the center of the
inside of the lid.
6) Drill a 1 cm hole through the lid and the access wood piece.
4. Put a layer of the test insulator into the bottom of the larger
outside box. Include material between the two stands.
5. Put the inner box on the stands that are in the larger outside box.
6. Fill the spaces between the inner box and the outside box with the
insulator.
7. Fill the lid with the same insulator used in the test box.
8. Leave box and lid outside refrigerator to obtain room temperature.
9. Heat water on a stove to the a temperature of 100 degrees Celsius.
10. Placed the test boxes (outside test box with inside
test box and insulator) into the refrigerator.
11. Quickly filled the beaker with 500 ml of boiling water
and placed beaker of water into the inner box.
12. Placed the lid onto the top of the outside box and
began test.
13. Test water temp every hour.
1) Open refrigerator and slide the Celsius thermometer through the
access hole into the water.
2) Wait approximately one minute.
3) Check the temperature reading on the Celsius thermometer and record
the information.
14. Continue performing temperature readings for 8 hours.
15. Repeat steps 4-14 for each insulator material. (No material,
Straw, Cloth, Paper, Batting, Sand).
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RESULTS
The original purpose of this experiment was to determine effect of different
types of insulation on heat retention.
The results of the experiment were batting insulation retain heat better
than the other insulation materials. The insulator with
the lowest temperature was the shredded paper.
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CONCLUSION
My hypothesis was that sand would increase the heat retention because
of its high density.
The results indicate that this hypothesis should be rejected.
Because of the results of this experiment, I wonder if the outside temperature
effects the temperature of the water inside the model house.
If I were to conduct this project again I would have a better research
report. I would also have more trials so I can be more accurate in
my results.
My tests will go for a longer period of time and I will concentrate
on making my experiment more accurate by making more water measurements
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RESEARCH REPORT
INTRODUCTION
People in cold climates need insulation. They need insulation
so they dont have to pay as much for energy because the insulation helps
to keep heat in their home.
INSULATION
Insulation or insulators are substances that are used to keep heat
inside something. Insulation also keeps sound from getting out too.
The five insulators mostly used are batts and blankets, loose fill cellular
plastics, rigid boards, and reflective insulation. Insulation is
mostly used in houses.
SAND
Sand consists of quartz grains derived from the weathering of granite
or other types of rocks. Sand is used for making Chemicals and glass.
Some ore valuable deposits are found in conjunction with sand deposits.
STRAW
Straw is made from stems that are dried such as wheat, rye, oats,
barley. Straw is used for many different ways. Its used for
animal bedding by farmers. Manufactures make hats, baskets, and paper
out of the straw. Straw is different than hay because hay is dried
grass or other plants that is used to feed animals.
PAPER
Paper is usually made of cellulose fibers from plants. Sometimes
made from cloths or other materials. Paper has advantages for insulating.
It has its high thermal resistance. Paper is also better in air infiltration.
This means that it doesnt let as much air go through the insulation, which
would make the insulation less effective.
BATTING INSULATION
The batts are made to fit between the studs and joists in the
walls, ceiling, and floor of a house. Batts are usually made of fiber
glass and rock wool which is made of rock and recycled material from steel
waste mills.
HEAT
Heat always flows to cooler places by means of Conduction, Convection,
and Radiation. Conduction is heat moving through a material carrying
nothing. Convection is the transfer of heat by the movement of a
heated material. This also occurs in water. During Conduction
and Convection, particles that are moving transmit heat. This is
called Radiation.
VAPOR BARRIERS
In the insulation areas, there are barriers that block moisture
from getting to the insulation. These barriers are called vapor barriers.
Vapor barriers are usually made up of plastics or metal foil. The
vapor barriers keep the moisture from getting to the insulation because
the moisture ruins the effectiveness of the insulation. The moisture
can get to the insulation by warming up and turning into warm humid air
and then it gets to the insulating places in the walls. Then the area cools
and condenses to moisture again.
SUMMARY
As you can see insulation is important because if people didnt
have it they would have to spend more money on the energy to keep
warm. It would also pollute the world more because of the amount
of energy being used. Therefore insulation is very important to us.
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BIBLIOGRAPHY
Cezairliyan, Ared."Heat"The World Book Encyclopedia.1995.vol.9
"Cellulose Insulation"[Online]Available
http://www.advancedfiber.com/cellulose.htm February 3, 1999
"Energy Savers: Insulation And Weatherization Body"[Online]Available
http://www.eren.doe.gov/consumerinfo/energy_savers/insulationbody.html
February 3, 1999
"Insulation Facts/Vapor Barriers and Ventilation"[Online]Available http//:www.les.lincoln.ne.us/energy/ins/vapor.php
November 24,1999
Mc Elroy, David L."Insuation"The World Book Encyclopedia.1995.vol.10
Meinert, David L. Energy Conservation.NewYork:Vantage Press inc.
"Paper" Academic American Encyclopedia.1998.vol.15
Petti, F.J."Sand"Academic American Encyclopedia.1998.vol.17
Remde, Harry F."Heat Insulation"Science and Technology.1997.vol.8
Seigler, David S."Straw"The World Book Encyclopedia.1999.vol.18
Stover, H.T."Thermal Insulation".Encyclopedia America.1999.vol.10
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