Define a Problem
One goal of the project was to have the highest Q(net) value. A second goal was to lose as little heat as possible. A third goal was to create an efficient insulator.
Generate Concepts
Brainstorming Ideas
cotton
Styrofoam
wool
tinfoil
newspaper
felt
wood
Popsicle sticks
We chose to use Popsicle sticks, cotton, and tinfoil. We chose to use the Popsicle sticks as a base for the insulator. We chose to use cotton balls as the main part of our insulator. We chose to use cotton because it is close to the same material as insulator in houses. We chose to use tinfoil to wrap the cotton and Popsicle sticks. We knew tinfoil is good at keeping heat in so we thought it would be a good insulator
cotton
Styrofoam
wool
tinfoil
newspaper
felt
wood
Popsicle sticks
We chose to use Popsicle sticks, cotton, and tinfoil. We chose to use the Popsicle sticks as a base for the insulator. We chose to use cotton balls as the main part of our insulator. We chose to use cotton because it is close to the same material as insulator in houses. We chose to use tinfoil to wrap the cotton and Popsicle sticks. We knew tinfoil is good at keeping heat in so we thought it would be a good insulator
Develop a Solution
Construct and Test Prototype
Evaluate Solution
These are the starting results of our data when the temperature inside was the hottest and temperature outside was the coolest
These are the end results of our data when the temperatures were getting close to each other. Outside temperature was getting hotter and inside temperature was getting cooler.
My experience with loggerpro lab equipment was very good. Once we knew what we needed it became very simple. We didn't have any trouble with setting it up or recording our data. My opinion on the thermodynamics topic is it is very confusing. To me the calculations were very hard without help. Also I was confused with all the variables. One mistake we made was not having all the materials. We forgot Popsicle sticks so we had to go around the school looking for some. Luckily we found some. One skill I learned was how to test if an insulation design is a good insulator. Another skill I learned was how to use the loggerpro equipment. A third skill I learned was how to calculate net energy retained.
Present a Solution
In this picture we just finished building the Popsicle base. Then we wrapped it in tin foil.
In this picture we used the hot glue gun to put all the cotton balls on top of the tin foil wrapped Popsicle base.
In this picture we wrapped the cotton balls and everything else in tin foil. Then we glued it down. Lastly we put a textbook on top of it to flatten it.
Conclusion
One modification we could of made is add more cotton balls. We could of used less Popsicle sticks and more cotton balls. This would of made it a better insulator and more energy efficient. We also could of made it bigger. Our insulation design was the same size as the whole in the light, but there were some cracks on the side. I think other teams Qnet values were better when they had a higher Qgained value. Most teams had around the same Qlost value so I don't think that was a factor. The teams that beat us had a higher Qgained value and the teams that did worse than us had a lower Qgained vaule.