Using insulation to prevent heat flow

1. Connect the Temperature probe with your handheld. Refer to Technical Hints to see how to connect the Temperature probe. The sensitive part is just the very tip, where two wires are welded together.

2. Make a small ball of clay, about the size of a large (shooter) marble.

3. Design an insulation to keep the clay at this temperature. You can use any available materials. Record why you think your design is good in Notes on your handheld computer.

4. Start the temperature graph and run through the complete series of measurements so that you obtain all of your data on one graph.

5. Measure the air temperature. Place the Temperature probe into the center of the clay ball.

6. Place the clay ball and Temperature probe in the Stryfoam cup that contains water. Any amount of water will do that's NOT at room temperature. Let it come to a relatively stable temperature (equilibrium). It can be either colder or warmer than room temperature.

7. Leaving the temperature probe in the clay, pull the clay out of the water and quickly dry it off. Quickly wrap the clay and temperature probe in your insulation system.

8. Monitor the temperature of the clay until it's near to equilibrium. Save your data to the handheld. How long does it take to reach equilibrium? Is the time greater or less than you thought it would be? Record your observations in Notes on your handheld computer.