Co-ordinated Sciences
Lab Report 3
Comparing Energy of a Peanut, a Banana chip and a Potato Chip
Aim: The aim of this experiment is to compare energy stored in peanuts, potato chips and banana chips.
Background Information
Food energy is the amount of in that is available through . The energy in food can be measured by seeing the rise in temperature of water by burning the food and then using the specific heat capacity of water to see how much energy the food contains. Specific heat capacity is the amount of energy (Joules) needed to raise the temperature of 1kg of a substance by 1oC. The formula for specific heat capacity is:
Hypothesis
The peanut will release the most energy, because it has the most calories, followed by the potato chip and then the banana chip.
Source: http://caloriecount.about.com/
Apparatus:
1 Copper beaker
1 electronic balance
1 Measuring cylinder
1 tripod stand
3 pins
1 Digital thermometer
1 Bunsen burner
1 pair of tongs
Peanut
Banana chips
Potato chips
Variables:
Controlled: Mass off water (50g)
Independent: Type of food (peanut, banana chips, potato chips)
Dependent: Change in temperature of water