LAB: CONDUCTION
Mr. Denver Drennen
Earth Science, Ninth Grade
Gretna High School, Pittsylvania County
SOL#: ES1 & ES2
Objectives:
Students will be able to use LabPro with temperature probes
Students will be able to define conduction
Students will be able to identify the direction in which heat will flow.
Students will have an understanding of how conduction effects the Earth’s
atmosphere.
Materials:
Computer
LabPro
(2) temperature probes
(2) ringstands
(2) ringstand clamps
(2) styrofoam cups with insulating lids
(1) aluminum bar that connects the cups
(1) 1000mL beaker
(1) burner
(1) ovenmitt or potholder
Setup Procedures:
1. Locate the LabPro, this should be connected to your computer.
2. Plug in the power cord.
3. Connect one temperature probe to CH1 (hot).
4. Connect the other temperature probe to CH2 (cold).
5. Click on the Logger Pro icon.
6. Be sure the setup interface is on COM1 and click on scan.
7. Interface should read LabPro, now click OK. Now is the time to let the instructor
know if there are any problems.
8. Click on file and open a new file.
9. Click on setup and then sensors.
10. Click on CH1 and change sensor to temperature-stainless.
11. Repeat step 10 for CH2.
12. Click on setup and then data collection and go to sampling. Make the experiment
length 30 minutes and change the sampling speed to 4samples/minute.
13. Now you are ready to begin the experiment.
Lab Procedures:
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Start by obtaining the necessary materials from the instructor.
Fill the beaker with tap water, place on the burner, and allow it to boil.
Set up the ringstands and clamps.
Place the two temperature probes into the clamps.
Fill one of the styrofoam cups with tap water.
Place the cups under the temperature probes.
Carefully pour the boiling water into the remaining styrofoam cup.
Place the lids with the aluminum bar onto the cups.
Carefully lower the temperature probes into the holes of the insulating lid. DO NOT
allow the probes to touch the bottom or sides of the cups.
10. Using the mouse hit the collect data button. Collect the data for 30 minutes.
11. The end result on the Logger Pro program should be a graph with a data table.
12. Print your results.
Figure 1
Figure 2: This is how your setup should look as you begin your experiment
Data: (Instructor’s sample)
Assessment:
Questions:
1. Which one of the cups gained energy? Which cup lost energy?
2. Using page 405 of your textbook give the definition for conduction.
3. Using section 14.3 of your textbook compare and contrast conduction, convection,
and radiation.
4. Explain how the Earth’s surface effects the atmosphere by conduction.
5. What would happen if you extrapolated the two lines on your graph?
6. List any factors involved in your experiment where heat loss occurred. How could
we improve this experiment or keep some of this from happening?