Pioneers used organic waste for fuel. Why can’t modern men and women? Garrett Rueda decided to see how effective an energy source organic waste would be.

Hypothesis

I believe that horse manure can be a possible energy source in an emergency, because I know that the pioneers used different types of animal waste for fuel.

Independent variables

Type of fuel used

Dependent variables

Average temperature of heated water

Controls

• Amount of water heated
• Fire pit and fire starter used

Experimental groups

• Avocado wood
• Buffalo chips
• Horse manure
• Charcoal

Materials

• Home-built fire pit (instructions documented in student’s project notebook)
• Horse manure
• Buffalo chips
• Avocado wood
• Charcoal
• Fire starter

Procedures

1. Make fire pit.
2. Line up two bricks in the fire pit, leaving a space large enough for the soup can.
3. Fill soup can with 112 grams of water, and place between the bricks in fire pit
4. Light fuel with fire starter.
5. Check temperature of water.

Results

The average peak temperature of the water samples was as follows:

• Charcoal: 66@dgs C
• Buffalo chips: 61@dgs C
• Horse manure: 48@dgs C
• Avocado wood: 43@dgs C

The figure shows a graph of the average peak temperature of the four samples.

Figure: Graph of average peak temperature of four fuel sources.

Conclusions

My hypothesis was that horse manure would be an effective alternate energy source in an emergency. My hypothesis was correct. Even though the horse manure didn’t create the most energy, it can be used in an emergency.

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