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Trial 2 - Accurately Predicting Water Temperature

1. Remember that the pet store manager added a liter of water to the fish tank. Consider what would have happened to the tank temperature if the manager had added 10 liters of cold water instead of 1 liter. Consider what would have happened if only a drop of cold water was added. Do you think the amounts of water involved are important? Explain.

   Yes

   No

   
   

2. Now you will mix known amounts of ice water and warm water using film canisters to see what effect water amounts have on temperature. Fill a large Styrofoam cup with ice water. Label this cup 1.

3. Fill another large Styrofoam cup with warm water. Label this cup 2.

4. Label a third large cup 3.

5. You can use film canisters to measure the amount, or volume, of water. Label one film canister 1 and the other canister 2. You can use film canister 1 to get ice-cold water (no ice) from cup 1 and film canister 2 to get warm water from cup 2.

   

6. Connect the temperature sensor to the computer. Refer to Technical Hints to connect the temperature sensor. Measure the temperatures of cup 1 and cup 2, and record the temperatures in the following table. Refer to Technical Hints to record a single measurement.

   	Cup 1		Cup 2		Cup 3
   	Volume (Canisters)	Temp (degrees C)	Volume (Canisters)	Temp (degrees C)	Volume (Canisters)	Predicted Temp (degrees C)	Temp (degrees C)
   Mixture 1

   
   

7. Now try mixing equal amounts of water. Pour one film canister of ice water into cup 3. Pour one canister of warm water into cup 3.

   

8. How many canisters did you add from cup 1 and cup 2? How many canisters are in cup 3? Record these volumes in the table.

   	Cup 1		Cup 2		Cup 3
   	Volume (Canisters)	Temp (degrees C)	Volume (Canisters)	Temp (degrees C)	Volume (Canisters)	Predicted Temp (degrees C)	Temp (degrees C)
   Mixture 1

   
   
9. Make a prediction. What do you think the temperature of the water is in cup 3? Record your prediction in the table.

   	Cup 1		Cup 2		Cup 3
   	Volume (Canisters)	Temp (degrees C)	Volume (Canisters)	Temp (degrees C)	Volume (Canisters)	Predicted Temp (degrees C)	Temp (degrees C)
   Mixture 1

   
   
10. Use the temperature sensor to measure the actual temperature in cup 3, and record the temperature in the table.

    	Cup 1		Cup 2		Cup 3
    	Volume (Canisters)	Temp (degrees C)	Volume (Canisters)	Temp (degrees C)	Volume (Canisters)	Predicted Temp (degrees C)	Temp (degrees C)
    Mixture 1

    
    

    

11. How did the actual results compare to your prediction?
    
    
12. With a partner try some of your own experiments. First, using the temperature sensor measure the temperature of the water in cup 1 and cup 2, then mix a chosen number of canisters from the ice-cold water and the warm water into cup 3. Complete the table as you go. Before you measure the temperature in cup 3, make your prediction.

    	Cup 1		Cup 2		Cup 3
    	Volume (Canisters)	Temp (degrees C)	Volume (Canisters)	Temp (degrees C)	Volume (Canisters)	Predicted Temp (degrees C)	Temp (degrees C)
    Mixture 1
    Mixture 2
    Mixture 3
    Mixture 4

    
    
13. Look at the table with your team members. Do you see a pattern? Explain.