In the Preliminary Activity, you will gain experience using a Temperature Probe and data-collection software—experience that will be helpful later as you investigate a physical property of water. You will measure temperature continuously before, during, and after warming a Temperature Probe in your hand. You will then gain experience selecting data ranges, determining statistics, and determining linear fits of selected data using data-collection software.

After completing the Preliminary Activity, you will first use reference sources to learn more about physical properties of substances and the physical properties of water in particular before you choose and investigate a researchable question dealing with a physical property of water.