My Coursework Assignment is to investigate which materials have the properties of an ideal insulator. I have chosen to investigate the effect of insulation on the rate of cooling.

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Franco Melcam 11EF                                                  Science Coursework (Physics)                                                                                                        

Introduction: What my experiment is tying to find out?

My Coursework Assignment is to investigate which materials have the properties of an ideal insulator. I have chosen to investigate the effect of insulation on the rate of cooling. The materials I am going to use for the insulation are polystyrene flakes, bubble wrap and cotton wool.

The three variables is Insulation because I am investigating the effect of insulation on the rate of cooling.
The dependent variable is Temperature because I am investigating the rate of cooling on the effect of insulation.

What I know about insulation?

I know that heat energy is either transferred or not transferred. There is a difference between internal and external temperatures. The heat energy always flows from warm regions to cold regions. The purpose of insulation is to diminish or prevent this form of heat transfer.

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All metals are good conductors e.g. iron, brass, aluminum, copper, gold, and silver. Gases and liquids are truly abysmal conductors but are also great convectors. The best insulators are ones, which trap pockets of air. If air can’t move, it can’t transfer heat as well by convection and so heat has to conduct very slowly through pockets of air, as well the material in between. This really slows it down. This is how clothes, blankets, loft insulation, cavity wall insulation and polystyrene cups.

Insulation should also take account of heat radiation. Silver finishes are highly effective insulation against ...

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