Electrical Kettle Experiment Essay Example

Rationale 

This term in science these terms have been discussed and explained electrical flow and currents, different energy types (chemical, thermal, electrical, sound, kinetic, light, potential, gravitational, elastic) and in this experiment three different forms of energy were conducted: thermal, electrical, and light. These three forms of energy are transferred, the phase where multiple forms of energy are changed/transferred into a different form. E.g., electrical energy into heat/thermal. This assessment was based around the Electrical Kettle experiment and whilst this experiment was constructed correctly, my theory is that the water will not fully heat up to reach its maximum temperature.

Research Questions

If the size of the nichrome wire is altered by the three different diameters, how would the temperature the water in the beaker change?

Original method 

Originally only 20 ml of water was added to an 80 ml beaker. A thin nichrome wire was then coiled and placed carefully in the water making sure the two ends did not touch each other. A voltage battery was then connected to two alligator clips connected to the nichrome wire. The voltage battery was set at level 4 allowing enough electricity in but not enough it would burn the paper lid. A thermometer was put into the beaker to precisely measure the temperature of the water inside the beaker.

Modified method 

• Changing the size of the wire – if the size of the wire is changed then it would give the wire more time to overheat and heat/boil the water because this would create more resistance for the electricity.
• Changing the volume of water in the beaker – if more water is added to the beaker, then the electricity output would not be able to generate enough heat to heat/boil the water to the original temperature because the volume of the water has increased.

Variables 

The variables in this experiment should be changed to represent the outcomes the experiment could produce.

Independent variables - In the experiment it can include the volume of water, the wire and its amount of coil, the amount of voltage being put through the alligator wires.

• Dependent variable – the dependent variable in the experiment would be the temperature of the water.

Safety and risk statement 

Table 1: 

Risk Result Prevention 

Touching the water or exposed wires Electrocution Do not touch the water

Touching the exposed wires or boiling water. Burns from heat Do not touch the wire 

Exposed wires touching paper lid. Lid catches on fire Do not increase the heat/voltage

Thermometer breaks. Spilling mercury on table or yourself Be aware of the thermometer

Results 

Table 2

Time Fine Nichrome Wire Water Temperature

Trial 1 Fine Nichrome Wire Water Temperature

Trial 2 Fine Nichrome Wire Water Temperature

Trial 3 Average

0 28 28 28 28

1 29 29 29 29

2 29 30 29 9.7

3 30 30 29 29.6

4 30 30 29.5 29.8

5 30 30 30 30

6 31 31 32 31.3

7 32 31 32 32.3

8 32 32 32 32

9 33 32 32.5 32.5

10 34 32 33 33

Range 6 4 5 5

Table 3

Time Thick Nichrome Wire Water Temperature

Trial 1 Medium Nichrome Wire Water Temperature

Trial 1 Average 

0 26 25 17

1 27 26 17.6

2 27 28 18.3

3 28 28.5 18.8

4 28 29 19

5 29 30 20

6 29 31 20

7 29 31 20

8 27 31 19.3

9 27 31 19.3

10 27 32 19.6

Range 1 7 2.6

Figure 1:

Figure 2:

Table 3

Calculation example 

Mean =T1+T2+T3/3

=26.3

Change in temperature =33 – 28 = 5

Data analysis

The graphs include information that explains the heat/thermal energy conducted from the recent trials of the Electrical Kettle experiment. Although the data has been thoroughly written down it cannot give an accurate result as during the experiment the wire, we were using broke thus giving the water time to go back to room temperature as we changed the wires.

Conclusion 

Although the beginning prediction was incorrect, the results were dependable, and my variables were well maintained. We took care to make sure that the water in the beaker was the same each time, that heat was applied equally to the water and that the coil was heating the water for an equal amount of time and even though these precautions were kept to standard I am certain the using this method to boil water is inefficient.

Evaluation 

The expectations of this experiment were that the water would boil enough to use, unfortunately this did not occur so it can be evaluated that this method of boiling water to be not only a waste of time but inefficient. As well as these opinions, data and graphs have been added to support this statement, with the highest temperature only exceeding 34o it would have been more efficient to just put the water in the sun.

Improvements and extensions  

When performing this experiment, it could have been altered 

• By not touching the wires after the experiment had started it would make it a lot more accurate in what readings were recorded. 
• By measuring the temperature on the thermometer down to a decimal point the temperature would be recorded with more accuracy.

References   

https://dept.writing.wisc.edu/wac/writing-an-introduction-for-a-scientific-paper/#:~:text=1%20A%20thorough%20rationale%20defines%20your%20assumptions%20about,mental%20effort%20on%20this.%20...%20More%20items...%20  - How to write a rationale?Schoolbox - 8 Science – original method. (“Sarah.Angela.Humyrah.Thermal Insulators.606 - Google Slides”).