Wood Chip vs. Fiberglass
Insulation
By Gus Conwell
Period 4
Quarter 4
Robert Louis Stevenson Middle School
Question
•Will fabricated
insulation be better at
holding heat than
natural insulation?
Background Information
• This experiment was based on heat
convection.
• Convection is how heat moves around the
earth.
• Builders install insulation to keep the interior
of structures warm and quiet.
My Hypothesis
• I predict that the fabricated fiberglass
insulation will better at holding heat than the
natural wood chip insulation.
Variables
• Experimental: wood
chips, R-13 insulation
• Constant: light bulbs,
boxes, instant
thermometers,
temperature on the
outside
Materials
• Wood base
• 2 - 25 watt light bulbs
• 2 – same size cardboard
boxes
• 2 - Instant
thermometers
• Wood Chips
• R-13 insulation
Building Procedures
1. Gather all required materials
2. Build two cardboard houses
3. Install wood chip insulation
4. Install fiberglass insulation
5. Wire two light bulbs
Testing Procedure
1) Recorded outside temperature
2) Turn on the lights in each insulation testing
cardboard box
3) Wait 5 minutes for insulation boxes to warm
up, record temperature, turn off light
4) 2 minutes later record temperature
5) 3 minutes later record temperature
6) 3 minutes later record temperature
Observation Table
Recorded temperatures
Test (degrees)
Wood Chips
Fiberglass
Test 1 (65)
146 to 74
114 to 84
Test 2 (65)
136 to 78
117 to 89
Test 3 (65)
150 to 80
121 to 91
Test 4 (40)
134 to 71
108 to 80
Test 5 (40)
144 to 71
109 to 85
Outside temperature 65 degrees
150
140
Temperature
130
120
110
Wood Chip
100
Fiberglass
90
80
70
Start
2 Min
5 Min
Time
8 Min
Outside Temperature 50 degrees
150
140
Temperature
130
120
110
100
Wood Chip
90
Fiberglass
80
70
60
Start
2 Min
5 Min
Time
8 Min
Total Temperature Lost in 8 Min
160
140
120
100
Init. Temp
End Temp
Temp Lost
80
60
40
20
0
wood
chips
Fiberglass
Data Analysis
• Surprisingly, the wood chips reflected the light
causing a initial higher temperature.
• However, the fiberglass insulation retained
heat better than the woodchips.
• Therefore, fiberglass is better than wood chip
insulation at holding heat.
Conclusion
• My hypothesis was correct.
• Fiberglass is a better insulator of air than
wood chips.
• We might have had different results if we had
tested at extreme temperatures
• I tried to find a natural solution to keep a
house warm, but R-13 insulation proved to be
a better choice
Special Thanks
• My dad, I could not
have done it without
him.
• School for champions
website from 3/24/10.
http//www.school-forchampions.com/science
/thermal_insulation.ht
ml
• Mr. Pham for guidance,
help, and advice.