Split the class up into teams. The teams are to place a thermometer in a ball of clay. They then
place this thermometer/clay setup in an insulated cup (or beaker) filled with hot water.
(note: water should not be boiling hot water since the clay will melt in boiling hot water. If water is boiling,
let it cool for at least 10 min.)
Each team should record the temperature every minute for 10 minutes. The thermometer/clay setup should
then be removed and placed in an insulated cup (or beaker) of cold water that contains a second thermometer.
Observe and record the changes in temperature of both the thermometers for another 10 minutes. Heat should be
transferred from the hot clay to the cold water. Students should then graph their data to see their results.
Notes: The insulated cup/beaker used in this activity should be bigger than the standard 50-60 mL beaker. A bigger
opening/radius of the beaker allows for the teams to easily see their respective temperatures as well as
transfer the thermometer/clay setup from the beaker of hot water to the beaker of cold water.
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