Hot or Cold Science Experiments
Many science experiments investigate the differences of hot and cold conditions on different substances or organisms. Complete a hot and cold science experiment in one of the three core scientific disciplines: biology, chemistry and physics. If you are a student preparing for a science fair, take photographs and keep a journal of your experiment, which you can display on your science fair stall.
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Is Hot or Cold Water Best for Flowers?
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To complete this experiment, put two cut white carnations in separate, identical vases. Fill one vase two-thirds with ice cold water and the other with the same amount of hot water. Add a medicine dropper of blue food coloring to the cold water vase and red food coloring to the hot water vase. Observe over the course of four, eight, 12 and 24 hours as the capillary action through which plants consume water changes the color of the petals based on the food coloring added to the glass. Determine which flowers are consuming water faster based on how quickly the flowers change color before deciding whether cold or hot water is better for feeding flowers.
Conduction
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Demonstrate how both insulation and conduction work by completing this experiment. First, take an empty metal tin, such as a soup can, and add a metal spoon and a wooden spoon. Boil a kettle of water and fill the tin halfway with boiling water. Touch the metal and wooden spoons every 20 seconds and note your observations about heat and conduction -- please note that the metal spoon will reach a high temperature quite quickly, so exercise caution. Empty the tin and allow it to cool before repeating the experiment using icy cold water in the same tin and using the same two spoons as previously. Note your observations about conductors once more.
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Salt and the Freezing and Boiling Points of Water
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To conduct this experiment, first line up four identical Styrofoam cups and add three, six, nine and 12 teaspoons of salt to the four. Fill the cups two-thirds with room temperature water and measure the water temperature. Place the four cups in a freezer and, once 30 minutes have elapsed, check back every 10 minutes. Once you see a film of ice cover the water's surface, remove the cups from the freezer and note the temperature. Progress the experiment by setting up a saucepan on a stove half filled with room temperature tap water. Add a thermometer and bring the water to a boil before noting the temperature. Now, add three tablespoons of table salt and wait for the solution to come back to the boil before noting the boiling point. Consider how the salt affected both the freezing and boiling points of water.
Sun vs. Shade
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Investigate the difference in air temperature between shade and sun during this experiment. Pick an outdoor spot that will remain shady for a number of hours, such as in the shade of a building or other large, fixed item, and another that will remain in direct sunlight for hours. Set up a table in each of your chosen locations and place identical thermometers on the table's surface. Check back on your tables once each 30 minutes for at least three hours to record the temperature. Find a local weather forecast for the day on which you are completing the experiment and consider how two different temperatures are given for one day, often expressed as the high and low -- how do these temperatures compare to your shady and sunny conditions? Graph your results for displaying if you are preparing a science fair project.
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References
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