What Is the Best Insulator: Air, Styrofoam, Foil or Cotton?
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.
Ice coolers work as insulators to keep drinks and food cold so that family picnics can be enjoyedCopyright U.S. Department of Agriculture http://snap.nal.usda.gov/family-having-picnic-park
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 specify the most suitable insulating materials for the climates where their structures reside. Temperature regulation applies an understanding of the principles of heat transfer, which is relevant in almost all engineering disciplines.
After this activity, students should be able to:
- Explain what "insulate" means and its implications in keeping things cold or warm.
- Conduct basic experimental processes.
- Describe how natural materials differ from human-made materials in terms of insulation.