Abstract:
How could one create a simple science lab that has the ability to mimic the greenhouse gas effect? This lab looked at how using an equal amount of ice cubes in three beakers covered with different tops, could make the ice melt the quickest, resembling the green house gases. The tops that were used to mimic these gases were aluminum foil, saran rap, and one with no covering on the top. These beakers were placed under heat lamps, and timed until the ice melted to the fifty milliliter line. My hypothesis was that the aluminum foil top would make the ice melt the fastest, which was concluded true. It took the aluminum foil eleven minutes to melt the ice to the desired measurement. But because we were only able to test this lab once, there were flaws in it.
How could one create a simple science lab that has the ability to mimic the greenhouse gas effect? This lab looked at how using an equal amount of ice cubes in three beakers covered with different tops, could make the ice melt the quickest, resembling the green house gases. The tops that were used to mimic these gases were aluminum foil, saran rap, and one with no covering on the top. These beakers were placed under heat lamps, and timed until the ice melted to the fifty milliliter line. My hypothesis was that the aluminum foil top would make the ice melt the fastest, which was concluded true. It took the aluminum foil eleven minutes to melt the ice to the desired measurement. But because we were only able to test this lab once, there were flaws in it.
Problem:
How fast does ice melt when placed in a greenhouse environment? Which material best mimics the greenhouse gases?
Hypothesis:
If we divide twenty one ice cubes into three beakers and cover one with aluminum foil, one with saran wrap, and leave one uncovered, then the ice in the beaker covered in foil will melt the fastest.
Parts of the Experiment:
Independent variable in this lab were the different tops that we put on the beakers. The dependent variable was how quickly the ice will melt in the beakers. The controlled variable was the beaker that did not have a top on it.
Materials:
Ice cubes, three beakers, saran wrap, aluminum foil, three heat lamps, three stop watches.
Method:
1. Fill three beakers with seven ice cubes. Cover one with aluminum foil, one with saran wrap, and leave one uncovered.
2. Put the three beakers under their own heat lamp.
3. Time how long it takes for the melted water level to reach 50 mL.
4. Record data and compare the results.
Data:
-The uncovered beakers started to melt before the others.
-The covered beakers started slower, but then sped up.
-The uncovered beaker produced more condensation.
Beaker | Top | Time it took to melt ice
1 | Aluminum foil | 11 minutes 0 seconds
2 | Uncovered | 12 minutes 2 seconds
3 | Saran Wrap | 11 minutes 57 seconds
How fast does ice melt when placed in a greenhouse environment? Which material best mimics the greenhouse gases?
Hypothesis:
If we divide twenty one ice cubes into three beakers and cover one with aluminum foil, one with saran wrap, and leave one uncovered, then the ice in the beaker covered in foil will melt the fastest.
Parts of the Experiment:
Independent variable in this lab were the different tops that we put on the beakers. The dependent variable was how quickly the ice will melt in the beakers. The controlled variable was the beaker that did not have a top on it.
Materials:
Ice cubes, three beakers, saran wrap, aluminum foil, three heat lamps, three stop watches.
Method:
1. Fill three beakers with seven ice cubes. Cover one with aluminum foil, one with saran wrap, and leave one uncovered.
2. Put the three beakers under their own heat lamp.
3. Time how long it takes for the melted water level to reach 50 mL.
4. Record data and compare the results.
Data:
-The uncovered beakers started to melt before the others.
-The covered beakers started slower, but then sped up.
-The uncovered beaker produced more condensation.
Beaker | Top | Time it took to melt ice
1 | Aluminum foil | 11 minutes 0 seconds
2 | Uncovered | 12 minutes 2 seconds
3 | Saran Wrap | 11 minutes 57 seconds
Conclusion:
In conclusion, our hypothesis was right. The beaker covered with aluminum foil melted faster than the one covered in saran wrap, by margin of about 37 seconds. Although because we could only test this lab once, I believe that there may have been some slight flaws in the outcome of this lab. Typically aluminum foil is a poor conductor of heat, and a poor at keeping heat trapped inside of it. The foil was more like a cloud for example, it reflects the light of the "sun" (heat lamp) instead of taking the heat in and making the "Earth" warm. I believe that the saran wrap should have melted the ice the quickest because it has the best ability to keep the heat trapped inside of beaker, most resembling the greenhouse gases.
In conclusion, our hypothesis was right. The beaker covered with aluminum foil melted faster than the one covered in saran wrap, by margin of about 37 seconds. Although because we could only test this lab once, I believe that there may have been some slight flaws in the outcome of this lab. Typically aluminum foil is a poor conductor of heat, and a poor at keeping heat trapped inside of it. The foil was more like a cloud for example, it reflects the light of the "sun" (heat lamp) instead of taking the heat in and making the "Earth" warm. I believe that the saran wrap should have melted the ice the quickest because it has the best ability to keep the heat trapped inside of beaker, most resembling the greenhouse gases.