Teaching Children Science: A Project-Based Approach, 2/e

Joe Krajcik, University of Michigan - Ann Arbor
Charlene Czerniak, University of Toledo
Carl Berger, University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

How Can Learning Technologies be Used to Support Investigations?

USING MICROCOMPUTER-BASED LABORATORIES TO VISUALIZE EVAPORATIVE COOLING

Materials Needed:


1		Predict the shape of a curve that a temperature probe would produce if initially dipped in water at 508C, then withdrawn, and then allowed to dry in a room.



2		Use a probe and accompanying software to collect data and create a graph of room temperature.



3		Place a probe in a 100 ml beaker filled with water that is about 508C. Start the probe software. Let the software collect data for about 30 seconds and then take the temperature probe out of the water and allow it to cool. Let the software collect data until there is no longer a change in the temperature for at least one minute.



4		Describe how the wet probe cooled. What is the lowest temperature reached? How does this temperature compare to the room temperature recorded earlier? What is the final temperature reached? How does it compare to room temperature?



5		How does your final graph compare with your -prediction?



6		How can you explain your graph?



7		Try this activity with rubbing alcohol. What are the -results? How do they compare with the results found with water?



8		What other question might you ask and investigate related to this concept?



9		Record your conclusions in your portfolio.

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