Science Buddies
Science Buddies: Project Ideas: Decomposing Energy: Heat Energy From Compost
In this energy and power science fair project, the student will calculate the heat energy produced by an active compost pile, surrounding a tin can filled with water. The Science Buddies project ideas are set up consistently beginning...
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College
Serc: Lab 8: Hot Water and Hurricanes
A lab experiment in a series of experiments that explores hurricanes. In this lab experiment, students will investigate the concepts of heat energy and specific heat of water to explore issues related to the rapid intensification of...
TeachEngineering
Teach Engineering: To Heat or Not to Heat?
Students are introduced to various types of energy with a focus on thermal energy and types of heat transfer as they are challenged to design a better travel thermos that is cost efficient, aesthetically pleasing and meets the design...
Chemistry Collective
Chem Collective: Determining the Heat of Reaction in Aqueous Solution
In this activity, students perform an experiment to determine the heat of a reaction.
California Institute of Technology
Nasa: Cool Cosmos: What Is Heat?
Eight different types of energy that can convert into thermal energy are described. A movement activity and an experiment are included in this overview of thermal energy.
Science Buddies
Science Buddies: Project Ideas: Transferring Heat by Convection in a Tank
In this engineering science fair project, students will determine the most effective method for quickly raising the temperature of a liquid in a tank. The Science Buddies project ideas are set up consistently beginning with an abstract,...
Physics Aviary
Physics Aviary: Mechanical Equivalent of Heat Lab
This lab is designed to have students look at a greatly simplified version of James Joule's experiment showing the conversion of mechanical energy to heat.
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College
Serc: How Greenhouse Gases Absorb Heat
In this experiment students observe two model atmospheres: one with normal atmospheric composition and another with an elevated concentration of CO2. These two contained atmospheres will be exposed to light energy in a sunny window or...
Science is Fun
Science Is Fun: Rubber Bands and Heat
An experiment to investigate the thermal properties of rubber by studying its behavior in different scenarios. A discussion of how entropy explains what is observed is provided.
TeachEngineering
Teach Engineering: Energy Efficiency
Students measure energy outputs and inputs to determine the efficiency of conversions and simple systems. One associated activitiy includes Lego motors and accomplishing work. The other investigates energy for heating water. Students...
TeachEngineering
Teach Engineering: Energy in Our Lives Carousel
This activity is a way for students to discover that they already know a lot about energy through their own life experiences. As active consumers of various forms of energy, they are aware of energy purchases for electricity, home...
Science Buddies
Science Buddies: Burning Biofuels: Comparing Nonrenewable and Renewable Fuels
Will using agrofuel offer a substantial alternative to using fossil fuel? With this experiment you can compare the amount of heat energy released by agrofuel and fossil fuel. The Science Buddies project ideas are set up consistently...
Purdue University
Purdue University: Thermal Convection
Students build a model representing the properties of Earth's mantle, illustrating how thermal energy creates movement in a fluid.
Other
Physics Labs: Heat of Fusion (Hf) of Ice
A complete set of directions, notes and suggestions for a lab involving the determination of the heat of fusion of ice. Suitable for a student project or lab investigation.
Other
Physics Labs/heat of Vaporization (Hv) of Water
A complete set of directions, notes and suggestions for a demonstration involving the determination of the heat of vaporization of water. Suitable for a student project or lab investigation.
Other
Physics Labs/specific Heat (C) of Metal
A complete set of directions, notes, and suggestions for a lab involving the determination of the specific heat values for various metals. Suitable for a student project or lab investigation.
Carnegie Mellon University
Chem Collective: Meals Ready to Eat
While camping on the Appalachian Trail, a storm dampens all the fire wood and you must design a chemical reaction to heat your meal. In this activity, students design an experiment in the virtual lab to determine the heat of reaction for...
TeachEngineering
Teach Engineering: Cooking With the Sun Creating a Solar Oven
For this activity, students will be given a set of materials: cardboard, a set of insulating materials (i.e. foam, newspaper, etc.), aluminum foil, and Plexiglas. Students will then become engineers in building a solar oven from the...
Science Buddies
Science Buddies: Project Ideas: Huddle and Cuddle: How Puppies Keep Warm
In this mammalian biology science fair project, students will determine how much huddling reduces heat loss in warm-blooded animals. The Science Buddies project ideas are set up consistently beginning with an abstract, objective, and...
Science Buddies
Science Buddies: Project Ideas: How Horses Keep Warm in the Wind
In this mammalian biology science fair project, students will learn about methods of heat transfer and determine the best direction in which horses should stand in a cold wind to maintain their core temperature. The Science Buddies...
National High Magnetic Field Laboratory
Magnet Academy: James Joule
James Prescott Joule experimented with engines, electricity and heat throughout his life. Joule's findings resulted in his development of the mechanical theory of heat and Joule's law, which quantitatively describes the rate at which...
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College
Serc: Why Is the Earth Still Hot Inside?
In this lesson, students conduct heat transfer experiments to investigate why the Earth is still hot at its core, even after billions of years since its formation. They will learn that the rate of heat transfer is dependent on an...
Science is Fun
Science Is Fun: The Fireproof Balloon
In this experiment, two balloons are each placed over a lighted match, but the one that has had water placed inside it does not burst. Includes an explanation of why that is so.
Museum of Science
The Atoms Family
Let this classic family of monsters guide you as you learn about energy. Interactive exercises, experiments, and demonstrations help to build knowledge and raise questions.