The Effect of Insulator Type
on the Retention of Heat

Student Experimenter

Researched by Adam J.
2004-05



PURPOSE

The purpose of this experiment was to determine the effect of insulator type on the retention of heat.

I became interested in this idea when I watched a movie about an architect.  I wanted to learn more about houses and buildings ever since.  This project idea seemed like a good one because I would get to build a model.

The information gained from this experiment could help people choose a more effective insulator.  This could save them money on heating bills and help them stay warmer in winter.  It could also help society by reducing energy use for heating.





HYPOTHESIS

My hypothesis was that fiberglass batts would insulate the best.

I based my hypothesis on a similar science project done in 2003 by Colin Anyan.  In his conclusion, he said, “Fiberglass batts are the best insulation.”
 



EXPERIMENT DESIGN

The constants in this study were:
  • The starting temperature of the water
  • The amount of water
  • The type of water (tap)
  • The thermometer
  • The beaker to hold the water
  • The box used as a model room.
  • Room temperature the box was placed in while the water was cooling.

The manipulated variable was the type of insulation.

The responding variable was the change in temperature of the water.

To measure the responding variable I used a computerized lab thermometer calibrated in degrees Celsius. 




MATERIALS
           
                            
 QUANTITY ITEM DESCRIPTION
1 
Beaker
6 10”by10” 5/8 inch thick Fiberglass Insulation
6
10”by10” 5/8 inch thick Styrofoam Insulation
6
10”by10” 3.5 inch thick Fiberglass Insulation
1 Laptop
400ml Tap Water
6 1 by 1ft Plywood boards
1 bottle Wood glue
1 Table Saw
5
6”by6” 1/4 inch wire mesh
24” Weather striping
1 Nip (strong scissors)




PROCEDURES

1. Build a model room
 a.   Saw six 12”by12” plywood boards
 b.   Glue five of the boards together in box shape without top
 c.   Put weather striping on top of box
2. Build wire mesh box
 a.   Cut mesh in 5 6” by 6” sheets with metal nips
          b.   Arrange sheets in box shape without top
          c.   Bend wire around ends of sheets to hold them together as a box
     d.   Cut four 4 inch long metal strips as legs.
     e.   Glue legs to corners of wire box
3. Cut Styrofoam insulation into six 10” by 10” boards
4. Cut Fiberglass insulation into six 10” by 10” sheets and 5/8 inch thick
5. Put styrofoam insulation into the inside of model room with one piece as top
6. Fill the beaker with 400ml of 50 degrees Celsius tap water
7. Put the beaker into the model room
8. Put the probe in the beaker
9. Put the sixth board on top of the box as lid
10. Set laptop running “Logger Pro 3.0” to Record the temperature of the water every 5 minutes for 2 hours
11. Remove Styrofoam insulation and replace with 5/8inch Fiberglass insulation
12. Repeat steps 6-10
13. Remove 5/8inch Fiberglass insulation
14. Put in 3.5 inch thick Fiberglass insulation
15. Repeat steps 6-10




RESULTS

The original purpose of this experiment was to determine the effect of insulator type on the retention of heat.

The results of the experiment were the 3.5 inch thick Fiberglass insulated the best and the 5/8 inch thick Fiberglass insulated the second best.  The 5/8 inch thick Styrofoam insulated the third best.

See my table and graphs.


 
CONCLUSION

My hypothesis was that fiberglass batts would insulate the best

The results indicate that this hypothesis should be accepted 

Because of the results of this experiment, I wonder if starting with ice-cold water and allowing it to heat up inside the test box would have different results for the insulators.

If I were to conduct this project again I would use more insulators and I would make sure to have the temperature of the water start out boiling.  Also I would run each test twice as long.  Most importantly I would have made sure the thickness of all the insulation were exactly the same.

RESEARCH REPORT

Introduction
Millions of people around the world use insulation to stay worm inside their homes.  

Insulation

Heat flows through windows, doors, ceilings, and walls.  Insulation is used to slow this natural movement.  The different types of insulators are fiberglass, styrofoam, mineral wool fibers, wood chips, and some plastics.  Batts and blankets are soft flexible units made of fiberglass or mineral wool fibers.  They are stapled between joints that support the ceilings and floors.  Loose fill is blown into unfinished floors, walls, or blown into finished walls through holes.  Cellular plastics are used to make liquid insulating foam and rigid insulating boards.  The plastic foam is injected into finished walls through small holes.  Plastic boards are attached  to finished roofs and walls.

Fiberglass

Fiberglass is made of silica sand, which is heated to high temperatures to produce glass which is spun into microthin fibers.  Fiberglass is the most popular insulation on the market today.  Fiberglass doesn’t shrink, won’t burn, and is unappealing to insects but cancer warnings are posted on most fiberglass insulation sold in the United States.  

Mineral Wool

Mineral Wool was the most widely used insulation for many years.  It is moisture resistant and retains its insulating properties when wet.  Mineral wool can resist temperatures greater than 1,800 degrees.

Cotton

Cotton comes in loose fill and in batts.  It has the same R value per inch as cellulose insulation.  Cotton is almost harmless to the installer unlike fiberglass and rock wool insulation.  Cotton insulation is usually treated with flame retardant. 

Sheep Wool

Sheep wool is a very good insulator.  It is naturally flame resistant and has a slightly higher R-value than standard fiberglass.  Sheep wools best benefit is it insulates when wet.

Straw Clay

Straw clay is a natural insulation that is made by mixing loose straw and and a clay slip.  It is packed into wall forms or ceilings and left to dry.  It is naturally fire resistant and mold and mildew repellent.

                               Heat

Heat is a type of energy.  Other types of energy are Kinetic, Potential, and Thermal energy.  Kinetic energy is the energy of motion, Potential energy is the energy of position, and Thermal energy is the internal energy of an object.  Heat travels from a warm area to a colder area.  This is the second law of thermodynamics.  It travels through metal very well, especially silver.

Summary

In conclusion, insulation is very important to humans.  There are many different types of insulation that all have an R-value, some high and some low.
 

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Anyan, Colin.  “Insulation vs. Melting Time” Available at
       http://www.selah.k12.wa.us/SOAR/SciProj2003/ColinA.html

Chiras, Dan,  “Mother Earth News”,  12-01-2002
 
“Insulation Facts” available at http://www.handymanwire.com/articles/rvalues.html

“Insulation,” Young Scientist Encyclopedia, 1997, pg.58

McElroy, David L. "Insulation,” World Book Encyclopedia,  1995.

Mike W.  “Thermal insulators,” Available at http://van.hep.uiuc.edu/van/qa/section/statesofmatterandenergy/temperatureandheat

Price, Heimler.  Focus on Physical Science, Columbia, Ohio, Merrill Publishing Company, 1987.
 



ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

I would like to thank the following people for helping make my project possible:
  • My parents for helping me do my experiment
  • Mr.Newkirk for reading through my report and correcting it
  • Mrs.Helms for helping me with my dispay board

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