Activity 1

Here are three experimental questions to answer:

1. Does hot water or cold water freeze faster?

2. Does hot water or cold water boil faster?

3. Does salt water freeze faster or slower than regular water?

 

Questions/Items to then include in you blog posting for this activity:

1.      Pictures of your experimental materials and setup.

 

 

 

 

 

2. Your hypothesis to the questions posed.

            1. If 2 cups of hot water and 2 cups of cold water are individually placed in the freezer at the same time, then the cup of cold water will freeze faster.

            2. If 2 cups of hot water and 2 cups of cold water are individually boiled at the same heat, then the cup of hot water will boil faster.

            3. If 2 cups of salt water and 2 cups of regular water are individually placed in the freezer at the same time, the salt water will freeze faster.

3. Data in the form of a graph or table

	Hot water freezes	Cold water freezes	Salt water freezes	Hot water boils	Cold water boils
Trial 1	97 mins	65 mins	100 mins	7 min 13 sec	7 min 52 sec
Trial 2	93 mins	58 mins	97 mins	6 min 32 sec	7 min 8 sec
Trial 3	92 mins	63 mins	99 mins	6 min 54 sec	7 min 37 sec
Averages	94 mins	62 mins	98.67 mins	7 min 6 sec	7 min 32 sec

 

5. List your controlled variables for your experiment

·         Temperature for freezing

·         Containers for freezing

·         Pans for boiling

·         Temperature for boiling

·         Tap water

·         Amount of water

·         Amount of salt

6. Formulate a theory that answers the questions posed.

Cold water froze faster than hot water because it is already closer to the freezing point. 

Hot water boiled faster than cold water because it is already closer to the boiling point.

Salt water froze faster than regular water because the salt molecules interfere with the water molecules and therefore make the freezing process take longer.

 7. Image of the atoms that make up water molecules.

 

 

 

 

 

8. Video or animation that shows how water molecules are arranged in the three states of matter for water.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lTKl0Gpn5oQ

 

9. Describe the scientific method/process and how each step correlates to your own experiments.

Observation: Before beginning this experiment, I thought that the temperature of water that was closest to either the boiling point or freezing point, depending on the question, would be the one that would reach that point the fastest.  As for the salt versus regular water, I thought that the salt water would freeze faster because I have used salt to help make homemade ice cream before.

Hypothesis: I came up with three different hypotheses to test according to the three different questions: (1) If 2 cups of hot water and 2 cups of cold water are individually placed in the freezer at the same time, then the cup of cold water will freeze faster. (2) If 2 cups of hot water and 2 cups of cold water are individually boiled at the same heat, then the cup of hot water will boil faster. (3) If 2 cups of salt water and 2 cups of regular water are individually placed in the freezer at the same time, the salt water will freeze faster.

Experiment: For my first experiment, I poured 2 cups of cold water, 2 cups of hot water, and 2 cups of salt water into individually respective identical Tupperware containers.  I then placed each of these containers outside where the temperature was 12 degrees Fahrenheit and started my stopwatch. I continued to periodically check each of the containers of water and recorded when each was completely frozen solid. I then repeated these same steps 2 more times for a total of three trials.

For my second experiment, I poured 2 cups of cold water into a small saucepan and turned the heat to medium and started my stopwatch. I recorded when the water began to boil. I repeated these steps two more times for a total of three trials. After this, I waited for the pan and burner to completely cool and then I poured 2 cups of hot water into the same pan and turned the heat to medium and started my stopwatch. I recorded when the water began to boil. I repeated these steps two more times for a total of three trials.

Analysis: My first two hypotheses proved correct. Cold water froze faster than hot water and hot water boiled faster than cold water. I believe this is due to the fact that the cold water was initially closer to the freezing point than the hot water was. The hot water was closer to the boiling point than the cold water, so it boiled first. My last hypothesis, that salt water would freeze faster than regular water, was proved false. The salt water seemed to consistently take the longest to freeze.

Conclusion: Overall, the cold water froze faster than the hot water; the hot water boiled faster than the cold water; and the regular water froze faster than the salt water.

10. Talk about the repeatability of experiment?

            The repeatability of my specific experiments would be mostly doable. It would be a little difficult because I did not use a standard freezer; I used the great outdoors as my freezer. One would just have to be sure that they did the experiment on a day where it was 12 degrees F. They would also have to use the same size Tupperware containers I used. Other than that, it would be very repeatable given the controlled variables.

11. Write a three paragraph statement about your experiment and connections to a real-world application. First paragraph: Intro of the science concepts. Second paragraph describe your experiment, data and conclusions. Third paragraph: Apply your science concepts and knowledge to a real-world application. After reading these paragraphs, a person should realize why these science concepts are important while gaining knowledge related to the topic.

            Throughout this project, I was able to realize how this activity will help me as a future Early Childhood teacher. The concepts of chemistry, matter, changing states, and many other things are very important for young children to be able to explore and understand.  I learned and explored the idea of hypotheses, a testable explanation of observed data, as I made three different hypotheses to support my observations and to further my experiments. I also explored the concept of changing states, as I witnessed water go from a liquid to a solid and liquid to gas, depending on if we were freezing or boiling the water. 

            My experiments were fairly simple as I aimed to test the three hypotheses I had come up with.  I poured 2 cups each of hot water, cold water, and salt water into their respective containers and then observed and recorded which froze the fastest.  The cold water froze the fastest; next, hot water, and finally salt water.  I was surprised at how much longer the salt water took to freeze than the cold water.  I also poured 2 cups of hot water and 2 cups of cold water into respective pans and put them on medium heat to see which would boil first.  The hot water consistently boiled first, which is not surprising because it is already closer to the boiling point.

            After doing these experiments and working through the scientific process, I have learned many things. I have learned that hypotheses can be proven wrong or right with an experiment.  For example, my first two hypotheses were proven right, but my last one was proven wrong.  By doing this experiment, I can use what I learned to help me in many different ways.  For example, when cooking I can use hot water for boiling because I now know that it will boil faster.  I can also use what I have learned to teach to children in my future classroom. We could easily do these experiments in a classroom environment, and then they could witness chemistry in action. We could further the lesson by learning about the differences in shape and volume for a liquid, a solid, and a gas.