Slow Cooker
Grade Levels:
7-9
Question:
Which natural material works best to insulate a homemade slow cooker: paper, cloth, or hay?
Possible Hypothesis:
The best insulator for a slow cooker is paper/cloth/hay.
Materials:
3 cardboard boxes of equal size (large enough to hold pan and insulating material)
3 potatoes of equal size
3 identical cooking pans with lids
Newspaper, cloth, hay
Thermometer
Water
Procedure:
- Place one potato in each pan and cover with the same amount of water. Boil them simultaneously for two minutes over the same amount of heat.
- Place a layer of one insulating material in the bottom of each box, place the pans inside the boxes, surround the pans with insulating material, and close.
- After one hour, record the temperature of the interior of the potatoes.
Analysis and Conclusion:
Which insulator worked best? Is this an energy efficient way to cook food?
Reprinted with the permission of the NEED Project. © 2008 National Energy Education Development Project - All Rights Reserved.
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