Prototype evaluation

Experimental Design
Richard Soucy

Problem Question

How does the size of the container effect the
temperature of ice for a period of time?

Hypothesis
If I increase the size of the box, then the
temperature of ice will increase because there
will be more air for convection to occur (the
process in which fluids [i.e. water, air] are
heated).

Variables

Independent Variable: Size of box
Dependent Variable: Temperature of ice

Experimental Groups

3 6” x 6” x 6” containers
3 12” x 9” x 5” containers
Baseline Data (4” x 37/8” x 43/8”)

Constants
Type of materials needed to make boxes
Ratio of materials needed to make boxes
Length of time
Ice tray
Thermometer

Materials
6 Biodegradable containers with previously mentioned
dimensions
Paper towels
2 Thermometers
24 cubes of Ice
Data Table

Procedure
1. Place 4 ice cubes into container
2. Place thermometer in container with bulb inside
3. Record start temperature after 2 minutes
4. Record temperatures every hour for 4 hours
5. Repeat steps 1-6 for 2 more trials
6. Repeat steps 1-7 for the second dimension

Data Collection Table
The Effect of the Size of Container to the Temperature of Ice After a Period of Time (°C)
Dimension Trial Start 1 hr 2 hr 3 hr 4 hr
Trial 1 -2 9 3 6 5
6” x 6” x Trial 2 3 5 7 6 7
6” Trial 3 3 5 0 3 11
Mean 1.33 6.33 3.33 5 7.67
Trial 1 -1 11 -1 5 2.5
6” x 4” x Trial 2 -2 0 3 11 0
4” Trial 3 -3 3.5 4 8 8
Mean -2 4.83 2 8 3.5

Results
What is the effect of the size of a container to the temperature of ice?

Experimental Design

12

10

8
6"x6"x6" Trial 1
6"x6"x6" Trial 2
6
6"x6"x6" Trial 3
6"x6"x6" Mean
Temperature (°C)

4 4"x6"x6" Trial 1
4"x6"x6" Trial 2
4"x6"x6" Trial 3
2
4"x6"x6" Mean

0

-2

-4
0 1 2 3 4

Amount of time ice was in (Hours)

Written Results
The 6” x 6” x 6” boxes had the highest temperature.
The average temperature at the start was 1.33°C, at
the first hour it was 6.33°C, at the second hour it
was 3.33°C, at the third hour it was 5°C, and at the
last hour it was 7.67°C. The difference was 6.34°C.
The trend was going up.
The 4” x 6” x 6” boxes had the lowest temperature.
The average temperature at the start was -2°C, at the
first hour it was 4.83°C, at the second hour it was
2°C, at the third hour it was 8°C, and at the last hour
it was 3.5°C. The difference was 5.5°C. The trend
was going up.

Conclusion
The problem question was, “How does the size of the container effect the
temperature of ice for a period of time?” The hypothesis was if the
size of the box increases, then the temperature of ice will increase
because there will be more air for convection to occur. My hypothesis
was supported by this experiment because the larger the box, the
higher the mean temperature was. Some uncontrolled variables were
the room temperature, the day, and the kind of glue. I was using
Elmer's Wood Glue and they changed the formula right when I ran out
of glue. These variables could be removed if the thermostat was
continuously set to the same temperature the entire day(s), if one had
more thermometers so one could do all of them at the same time, and
if one had a larger glue supply. This could be useful in the real world
if one wanted to keep something cold (or hot, for that matter) in the
opposite temperature (warm in cold, cold in hot). Some companies
such as Coleman might want this information when they make their
coolers. People who want everything biodegradable could use this,
too. I could do this differently in the future by changing the kind of
cardboard or the brand of glue. I could also change the amount of
packing peanuts.

Prototype evaluation

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