Our class has been learning about the three states of matter and how they can change forms. For this inquiry, each group was challenged to design a lunch box that would keep a lunch cold the longest. To figure out the best design, they experimented with ice cubes. The goal of the design was to keep the large ice cube cold as long as possible. Students were allowed to use anything in the classroom, except, of course, their own lunch box.
We have been learning about how heating and cooling can cause states of matter to change phases. For this experiment, they were essentially trying to prevent the solid (ice) from changing into a liquid (water). A large ice cube in a ziplock bag was placed in each “lunch box” at the beginning of the next day. In the afternoon, we measured the amount of water that melted in each bag.
The Control
We measured the water that melted in each design. Though each group’s lunch box melted less water than the control, Calista’s and Sarah’s design was the best!