Mix It Up - Mixing Liquids of Different Temperatures
Recommended for grades 9–12.
Introduction
Suppose that a hot drink and a cold drink are mixed together and you would like to predict the temperature of the mixture. To do this, you need to know the temperatures of the drinks before they are mixed, T1 and T2, and the volumes of each used in the mixture, V1 and V2. A visual representation of the problem is shown below, where Tm represents the temperature of the mixture:
In this activity you will use the concepts described above to predict the resulting temperature when two solutions of different temperatures are mixed. The data needed to perform these calculations will be collected using a pair of Temperature Probes.
Objectives
- Record temperatures of water samples before and after mixing.
- Compare the mixing temperatures to a linear prediction.
Sensors and Equipment
This activity requires each of the following Vernier sensors and equipment (unless otherwise noted):
Additional Requirements
You may also need an interface and software for data collection. What do I need for data collection?
Download Experiment Preview
The student-version preview includes:
- Step-by-step instructions for computer-based data collection
- List of materials and equipment
Note: The experiment preview of the computer edition does not include essential teacher information, safety tips, or sample data. Instructions for Logger Pro and other software (such as LabQuest App or TI handheld software, where available) are on the CD that accompanies the book. We strongly recommend that you purchase the book before performing experiments.
Standards Correlations
See all standards correlations for Real-World Math with Vernier »
Included in the Lab Book
Vernier lab books include a CD with word-processing files of the student instructions, essential teacher information, suggested answers, sample data and graphs, and more.