Insulating Cold

By Ethan

Aim

• To find out if insulating cold is as effective as insulating heat.

Method1. Measure 200 mls of water and pour into two of the coke cans.

2. Then freeze the cans.

3. Put the thermometer into cold water so mercury is low before you start the testing.

4. Wrap insulation around one of the frozen cans.

5. Take starting temperature.

6. Measure and record the temperature every 2 minutes for 30 minutes in both cans.

7. Boil the kettle and then measure 200 mls of water. Pour into two new empty coke cans.

8. Wrap insulation around one of the cans.

9. Put the thermometer into very hot water so the mercury is high before testing.

10. Take starting temperature.

11. Measure and record the temperature every two minutes for 30 minutes in both cans.

Equipment

• 4x coke cans

• Cold water

• Boiling water

• Insulation

• Thermometer

My Hypothesis

• The frozen control Coke can (no insulation) will heat faster than the other Coke can with insulation.

Results

• My hypothesis was right and the insulation around the frozen Coke can kept the can temperature more constant for longer. This experiment proves that wool insulation keeps in cold if what it’s containing is also cold. For the heat experiment the insulation worked and the Coke can maintained its heat for longer.

Conclusion

• With the cold insulation both Coke can temperatures increased at a similar rate but the insulated can maintained a few degrees colder.

• The can with the insulation wrap sustained the heat better than the control can. There was a similar pattern with the hot cans. They both decreased at the same rate however the insulated can stayed warmer at the start. Lucas’ results were the same as mine but Tashi’s results were a bit different because his thermometer was placed above the ice.

Application

• With insulation in the walls, floor and roof of your house your house will stay cooler in summer. This will save energy for cooling systems. Houses with insulation have the advantage of staying cool by trapping cold air in.

• Insulation is also good for winter keeping the warmth in so your heating system (heat pump) won’t have to use as much power. Not only will this cost you less money, it will save energy meaning less fossil fuel use and other resources.

Graphs

Insulating Cold

-10

-8

-6

-4

-2

0

2

4

6

8

2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18 20 22 24 26 28 30

Minutes

Deg

rees C

els

ius

Control (with out insulation)

With Insulation

Graphs

Insulating Cold

-10

-8

-6

-4

-2

0

2

4

6

8

2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18 20 22 24 26 28 30

Minutes

Deg

rees

Cel

siu

s

Control (with out insulation)

With Insulation

Graphs

Insulating Heat

0102030405060708090

100

2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18 20 22 24 26 28 30

Minutes

Deg

rees

Cel

siu

s

Control (with out insulation)

With Insulation

Graphs

Insulating Heat

0102030405060708090

100

2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18 20 22 24 26 28 30

Minutes

Deg

rees

Cel

siu

s

With Insulation

Control (with outn insulation)

(Frequently Asked Questions)Q. Isn’t insulation usually pink?A. My insulation was from a company called green stuff which makes green

insulation.Q. What is insulation made out of?A. There are three types of insulation that I know of. I used wool insulation the

other types are fibre glass which must be handled with gloves. Fibre glass can suffocate you if you inhale the tiny fibres. Another is a brand called Air foam® which uses a special fan to blow the insulation into your walls.

Q. How does the insulation keep the ice cold?A. Wool has tiny air pockets which gets cold air in so the ice stays cold, it’s a bit

like a wet suit which uses your body temperature to heat up the thin layer of water between your body and the wetsuit.

Q. What use is insulating cold?A. During summer when you use your air conditioning the insulation will keep

your house colder for longer.

Pictures

• Some of the facts I got were from the web site below

•

• http://www.energywise.govt.nz

• The picture I used is from the web site below.

• aceinsulationservicestx.com

• (Insulation being installed)