Picking a Better Insulator

• Apparatus: Two large cans, two small cans, cotton wool, polystyrene beads, boiling water, thermometers, stopwatch
• Procedure:

  • Put the small cans into the large cans and insulate the small can with (i) cotton wool and (ii) polystyrene beads
  • Pour boiling water into the small cans and place the thermometers in them.
  • Start the stopwatch and take readings of temperature at regular intervals.
  • Record readings in a table for each insulator.
  • The small can that has the higher temperature over the fixed period is better insulated.
  • Hence, object that provides a less temperature loss over the period is the better insulator.
• Procedure:

  • Put the small cans into the large cans and insulate the small can with (i) cotton wool and (ii) polystyrene beads
  • Pour boiling water into the small cans and place the thermometers in them.
  • Start the stopwatch and take readings of temperature at regular intervals.
  • Record readings in a table for each insulator.
  • The small can that has the higher temperature over the fixed period is better insulated.
  • Hence, object that provides a less temperature loss over the period is the better insulator.