Materials Testing Thermal Insulation Investigation

We need your help!

We've had reports of some kids feeling very cold in the winter. We want to make extra warm and cosy jumpers for them. We need you to carry out investigations to find out which material we should use to make the jumpers.

Thermal Insulation Investigation

The Case

The teacher hates cold tea! A hot cup of tea will go cold because heat travels from a warmer place to a colder place. We need to find a way to slow this process down!

Test the materials to see which one is best to use to make a special thermal cup to keep the teacher's cup of tea warm.

Your Prediction

Which of these materials do you think will be best to wrap around a cup of tea to keep it warm?

  • Wool
  • Bubble wrap
  • Newspaper
  • Foil

Find out later if you were right!

click me to find out how insulation works happy teacher sad teacher

Thermal Insulation Investigation

The Results

Table

Wool wool 58 minutes
Bubble wrap bubble wrap 45 minutes
Newspaper newspaper 32 minutes
Foil foil 16 minutes

Chart

Note

The teacher's tea takes 10 minutes to reach room temperature without any insulation.

10 Minutes

Was your prediction right?

What can we tell from these results?

Solve the case
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