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Conductors and Insulators

Last updated over 3 years ago
48 questions
Conductor vs Insulator
1
A thermal energy __________ is a material that allows thermal energy to be transferred within a material or to other materials easily/quickly.
*Any material that does allow heat to flow through it easily
1
A thermal energy __________ is an object that creates a barrier between the hot and the cold object that reduces or slows down the transfer of thermal energy.
*Any material that does not allow heat to flow through it easily
8

Go through each item and identify as a conductor or insulator

Conductor
Insulator
Copper
Cotton T-Shirt
Gold
Iron
Plastic
Rubber
Styrofoam
Wood
Movement of Thermal Energy
Identify the direction of heat flow in each example by selecting the arrow that shows the heat flow.
1
Hair __________ Warm Air
1
Bowl __________ Ice Cream
1
Ice __________ Water
1
Soup __________ Spoon
1
Hand __________ Hot Sidewalk
Comparing Objects

Paper Towel

1

What is the temperature (in oC) of the soda wrapped in a paper towel after one hour of insulation
* (60.4 - 32) x 0.556
*Round to the nearest tenth

1

Change in temperature in oF after one hour of insulation of the soda wrapped in a paper towel
* 60.4 - 40.0

1

Change in temperature in oC after one hour of insulation of the soda wrapped in a paper towel
* Answer from #9 - 4.4

Wool Sock

1

What is the temperature (in oC) of the soda wrapped in a wool sock after one hour of insulation
* (59.6 - 32) x 0.556
*Round to the nearest tenth

1

Change in temperature in oF after one hour of insulation of the soda wrapped in a wool sock
* 59.6 - 40.0

1

Change in temperature in oC after one hour of insulation of the soda wrapped in a wool sock
* Answer from #12 - 4.4

Cotton Sock

1

What is the temperature (in oC) of the soda wrapped in a cotton sock after one hour of insulation
* (63.4 - 32) x 0.556
*Round to the nearest tenth

1

Change in temperature in oF after one hour of insulation of the soda wrapped in a cotton sock
* 63.4 - 40.0

1

Change in temperature in oC after one hour of insulation of the soda wrapped in a cotton sock
* Answer from #15 - 4.4

Plastic Wrap

1

What is the temperature (in oC) of the soda wrapped in plastic wrap after one hour of insulation
* (62.1 - 32) x 0.556
*Round to the nearest tenth

1

Change in temperature in oF after one hour of insulation of the soda wrapped in plastic wrap
* 62.1 - 40.0

1

Change in temperature in oC after one hour of insulation of the soda wrapped in plastic wrap
* Answer from #18 - 4.4

Aluminum Foil

1

What is the temperature (in oC) of the soda wrapped in aluminum foil after one hour of insulation
* (61.4 - 32) x 0.556
*Round to the nearest tenth

1

Change in temperature in oF after one hour of insulation of the soda wrapped in aluminum foil
* 61.4 - 40.0

1

Change in temperature in oC after one hour of insulation of the soda wrapped in aluminum foil
* Answer from #21 - 4.4

2
A __________ insulator will have a large change in temperature
A __________ insulator will have a small change in temperature

From the best insulator to the worst insulator

6
1st Best __________
6
2nd Best __________
6
3rd Best __________
6
4th Best __________
6
5th Best __________
6
6th Best __________
1

What is a heat insulator

1

Some people say that heat transfer always occurs from “where it is to where it isn’t.” What does this really mean?

4
Some things slow down the rate of heat transfer.
*List 4 insulators
1) _______
2) _______
3) _______
4) _______
1

Which is better at slowing down the rate of heat transfer

a wool sock or a cotton sock
2
Explain your reasoning for your answer above.
I believe the _______ sock is better at slowing down the rate of heat transfer because _______
2
Next time you bring a cold drink or an ice cream sandwich to school for lunch, what can you wrap it in to keep it cold? _______

Why did you choose that material? _______
1

What did the wool sock slow down?

2
Did the wool sock trap “coldness”? _______

Explain your reasoning for the above answer. _______
3
Could there be any sources of error in measuring the can temperatures? _______

What are those possible errors (If yes, fill this out. If you answered no leave this blank) _______

How could we find out if there were any errors? _______
1

Why did we include a can with no wrapping in the data set?

2
Why do people wear wool in the winter _______
and cotton in the summer _______
1

Materials that can decrease the rate of energy transfer are called insulators.
What properties might the wool sock and paper towel have in common that make them good insulators?

3

Based on our results, which materials can be called insulators?
Click on 3

Control (Nothing) Paper Towel Wool Sock Cotton Sock Plastic Wrap Aluminum Foil
Nature
1
Pick an animal that lives in a hot environment (like a desert) _______

How does that animal that keeps cool/from overheating _______
1
Pick an animal that lives in a cold environment (like the artic) _______

How does that animal that keeps warm/from freezing _______
Extra Credit
Correct the misconceptions

*You can do this by rewriting the statement to make it true.
*The words typed in bold are the ones that are needed to be changed.
1
Incorrect Statement
The materials in the data set kept the soda can cold.

Corrected Statement
The materials in the data set _______
1
Incorrect Statement
Wool adds warmth.

Corrected Statement
Wool _______ warmth
1
Incorrect Statement
Wool material works best because I know people who use that method.

Corrected Statement
Wool material works best because _______