Project by: Natalie (11th Grade)
Faculty Advisor: Preethi Thomas Mcknight
In the completion of the first section of my honors project, I learned about thermodynamics, and the properties belonging to temperature and energy. I was able to connect my previous honors project about kinematics and go further in depth with understanding the motion of bodies. I went off of a textbook and conducted a few small experiments revolving around the material I discovered in the writing. A few examples of this include balancing a paperclip on water, as well as placing ice in a glass and monitoring its temperature as its form changed using logger pro. I was also able to go through the chapter’s assessments and use the equations that I had identified in the text. I have explored thermal energy, states of matter, as well as waves and vibrations and will continue to venture into the material even further.
The image below represents a snapshot of the final illustration on logger pro from the experiment. According to Newton’s Law of Cooling: The rate temperatures rise and fall is proportional to the difference between two environments, and in this case, it is referring to the temperature of ice and its surrounding atmosphere.
Ice Experiment Process Observations:
MINUTE 1: Room temperature – Constant around 24°C, thermometer immediately drops when placed in ice.
MINUTE 2: Temperature begins to “even out” and slows down as it becomes adapted to its surrounding environment.
MINUTE 3-6: Slow descent into a cooler temperature, remaining at 0.2°C, occasionally dropping to 0.1°C. Ice has melted substantially as the structure is seen breaking down as it releases energy.
(MOVEMENT): Following stirring the thermometer around the ice, the temperature increases. The ice takes up less space as it melts (1.2°C) and through stirring and disturbing the position of the melted ice, it is demonstrated to have a fluctuating temperature. Returning back to Newton’s Law of Cooling, the temperature does not constantly increase at a dramatic rate with temperature growing slowly.
MINUTE 7: (THERMOMETER IS REMOVED AND EXPOSED TO ROOM TEMPERATURE), once surrounded by a warmer atmosphere, the graph is seen to arch upward and constantly increase in temperature, until beginning to “even out.”
MINUTE 8: There continues to be a slight growth in temperature, 18.9°C to 19.7°C, and with a smaller difference in temperature, it moves slowly reaching only 21.1°C within the minute.
MINUTE 9: (THERMOMETER IS PLACED BACK INTO ICE), with the sudden change in surrounding temperature, the graph illustrates a sharp downward trend and remains steady as it becomes accustomed to the cold.
MINUTE 10: (HAND HOLDS THERMOMETER), the temperature spikes upward, reaching 30.3°C within seconds.
The experiment is completed following this action.
The image below is a depiction of the paperclip on water experiment.
Paperclip Experiment:
Surface tension along the water, where the molecules are closely bound together, allows the paper clip to be held. If the clip is placed on the water, under the right conditions, the molecules will retain enough support.
This project, spanning from my Junior year and into the fall of my Senior year will continue into Trimester 2 of my Senior year by way of studying a new topic: “Investigating Light & Electricity.” From the skills I have built through completing these experiments, I intend on conducting more throughout Trimester 2 and condensing my findings on this topic and type of energy through comprehensive lab reports and analysis.
PROPOSAL
Please write a description of the project you are proposing. Why do you want to take this on, and what do you hope to learn?
This project stems from a previous honors project about kinematics, pushing further into the science concerned with the motion of bodies under the action of forces. This includes observing gravitation, electricity, and magnetism. It connects to astronomy through celestial mechanics, chemistry in the dynamics of molecular collisions, geology with the propagation of seismic waves, generated by earthquakes through the earth’s crust, and engineering with statistics, the equilibrium, as well as the stability of structures. From the assistance of my honors project teacher, outside research, and experimentation I want to establish clear, presentable knowledge that I am able to apply to future classes and situations.
What is your proposed outcome? How will you be able to demonstrate successful completion of this Project?
My proposed outcome is to develop a conceptual understanding of the main topics of mechanics including experiments that affirm theoretical laws, and the ability to apply that same theoretical structure to explain and predict the motions of other bodies. I will exhibit successful completion of this project through sharing what I’ve learned with my classmates and using it under certain circumstances.
