http://www.teachengineering.org/view_activity.php?url=collection/wpi_/activities/wpi_the_best_insulator/the_best_insulator.xmlactivitytext/xmlCenter for Engineering Educational Outreach, conductorenergyfreezeheat transferinsulatormelttemperature regulationinsulateconductorinsulatorheatenergyconservation of energymeltfreeze

That heat flows from hot to cold is an unavoidable truth of life. People have put a lot of effort into stopping this natural physical behavior, however all they have been able to do is slow the process. Student teams investigate the properties of insulators in their attempts to keep cups of water from freezing, and once frozen, to keep them from melting.

Temperature regulation is important in many aspects of engineering. Packaging engineers design containers and systems to be able to reliably ship items at specific temperatures. Mechanical engineers make sure that working engines do not overheat, and electrical and computer engineers design electronics so that they do not overheat. Civil engineers must specify the most suitable insulating materials for the climate where their structures reside. Temperature regulation applies an understanding of the principles of heat transfer, which is relevant in almost all engineering disciplines. What "insulate" means and its implications in keeping things cold or warm.Basic experimental processes.How natural materials differ from human-made materials in terms of insulation.134.5TeachEngineering.orghttp://www.teachengineering.org/collection/wpi_/activities/wpi_the_best_insulator/data_chart.dochttp://www.teachengineering.org/collection/wpi_/activities/wpi_the_best_insulator/data_chart.pdfhttp://www.teachengineering.org/collection/wpi_/activities/wpi_the_best_insulator/results_chart.dochttp://www.teachengineering.org/collection/wpi_/activities/wpi_the_best_insulator/results_chart.pdfS101F91AMassachusettsScience1.1 Identify materials used to accomplish a design task based on a specific property, i.e., weight, strength, hardness, and flexibility.35S10047AAMassachusettsScience2.1 Identify a problem that reflects the need for shelter, storage, or convenience.35S100B39FMassachusettsScience3. Describe how water can be changed from one state to another by adding or taking away heat.35S10194D0MassachusettsScience5. Give examples of how energy can be transferred from one form to another.35S100ED67MassachusettsScience7. Identify and classify objects and materials that conduct electricity and objects and materials that are insulators of electricity.35United StatesCopyright 2012 - Center for Engineering Educational Outreach, Tufts Universityhttp://www.teachengineering.org/policy_ipp.phphttp://www.teachengineering.org/2011-10-254Teacher