Division:
Div C – High School
NC Essential Standards Alignment:
Physics
Event Rules:
See the National Event Manual
Event Score Sheet:
National Event Page:
Required Materials:
Splash goggles, device, and something to write with.
Clarifications:
None
Description:
This event is a lab event with a written test component. Students must build a device that can insulate water in a beaker to a known cooling rate. During device testing, students will take a written test on thermodynamics concepts.
Materials:
Each team may bring one 3-ring binder of any size containing any information that they want to bring. They may also bring tools, supplies, something to write with and 2 calculators.
Each team must impound in advance their insulating device, 2 identical unaltered standard 250mL beakers (glass or plastic) and copies of graphs or tables for the event supervisors. They cannot compete in the device-testing piece without proper chemical splash goggles.
Scoring:
High score wins. Points are awarded based on 5 variables outlined in the rules.
Common Mistakes:
Make sure that your box is the right size and that the hole for the thermometer and the height of the beaker match the construction specs – measure it often!
Recommendations:
None
Event Resources:
2017 Coaches Clinic Presentation
Here is the link to the thermometers we will be using for competition
Sadi Carnot “The father of thermodynamics”
Heat Engines and the First Law
Media:
None
Here’s a walk through on how this event will run.
Here’s an idea for building an insulating device.