Hot Potato, Cool Foil

Each group needs:

• a calorimeter (Note: The associated Counting Calories activity provides instructions for students to build their own calorimeters.)
• a stir rod or Popsicle® stick
• thermometer
• 1 piece of aluminum, ~75g
• 1 piece of copper, ~75g
• an object of their choice (rubber, wood, rock, etc.), ~75g
• tongs, to hold the samples
• As Cold as Ice Worksheet (PDF), one per student
• To Heat or Not to Heat Worksheet (PDF), one per student
• Do You Have the Capacity? Worksheet (PDF), one per student

Each group should have access to:

• a freezer