A Good Sock
Introduction
Insulation slows the flow of heat. Cotton, down, nylon, polypropylene, orlon, silk, and wool are some of the many insulating materials used in clothing. In this experiment, you will compare the insulating properties of cotton and wool using athletic socks. You will also study the effect of water on the insulating properties of cotton.
Objectives
In this experiment, you will
- Use a computer and an NXT to measure temperature.
- Calculate temperature changes.
- Compare the insulating properties of cotton and wool.
- Investigate the effect of water on insulation.
Sensors and Equipment
This project/activity requires each of the following Vernier sensors and equipment (unless otherwise noted):
Additional Requirements
You will also need NXT Sensor Adapter and a LEGO MINDSTORMS NXT robotics system.
Download Experiment Preview
The student-version preview includes:
- Step-by-step instructions for computer-based data collection
- List of materials and equipment
The preview does not include essential teacher information, safety tips, or sample data. We strongly recommend that you purchase the book for classroom use.
Standards Correlations
No standards correlations for this experiment.
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.