Assignment 1

Assignment 1

Michael Dummer


1. Questions with hypothesis'

1. Does hot water or cold water freeze faster?

The cold water will freeze faster because the cold water is closer to the freezing temperature of water (32 Degrees Fahrenheit)

2. Does hot water or cold water boil faster?

The hot water will boil faster than the cold water because the initial temperature of the hot water is closer to the boiling point of water. (212 Degrees Fahrenheit)

3. Does salt water freeze faster or slower than regular water?

The salt water will freeze slower than regular water because salt molecules will interfere with the water molecules freezing process.

Materials Pictured 

1. Pot for boiling water
2. 18 Oz cup used to measure water (roommates lost liquid measuring cup)
3. Ice tray for freezing water
4. 1 tsp measuring device
5. Salt
6. Outdoor Wisconsin (for freezing)


Independent Variables

Experiment 1: The temperature of the water (Hot or Cold).

Experiment 2: The temperature of the water (Hot or Cold).

Experiment 3: The salt added to the water.

Dependent Variables

Experiment 1: The time it takes for water to start freezing (hot and cold).

Experiment 2: The time it takes for the water to start boiling (hot and cold).

Experiment 3: The time it takes for the water to freeze (salt and regular).

Controlled Variables 

The temperature used for freezing the water (8 Degrees Fahrenheit)

The stove top temperature for boiling water (High setting)

The materials used for each experiment (ice tray and pot)

Procedure

Experiment 1: I completely filled half of the ice try with hot water and half with cold water. Once the tray was filled with the two types of water from the experiment, I placed the tray outside and recorded the temperature shown on my phone. I then started a stop watch to record the time it took to freeze. I would check the ice try every 10 minutes three times and then would check every 2-3 minutes after that. I then recorded the time when I noticed ice forming. I repeated this process 3 times.

Experiment 2: I used the plastic cup to measure out 18 fluid oz of hot water. I turned my electric stove on to high and waited 5 minutes. I then put the pot of water on the stove and started a stop watch to record the time the water started boiling. I then repeated this process three times. I then used cold water and proceeded to repeat the experiment another 3 times.

Experiment 3: For this experiment I followed the basic outline of Experiment 1. The difference was that I measured and put 1 tsp of salt into each portion of half of the ice tray filled with room temperature water. I then filled the other half of the ice tray with regular water room temperature water.

Table and Graphs

The pictures above show the average temperature it took to boil and freeze the independent variables stated before.







https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tuE1LePDZ4Y : Video link showing the different states of water molecules.


Possible Errors/ Changes for next time: Obviously this experiment isn't perfect. I wasn't constantly watching the water freeze so I couldn't see the exact moment when the water started turning to ice. I also used the outdoors to freeze the water. This could of caused a a few degree changes in the temperature throughout the process.

Repeat-ability: I was the only person completing these experiments so there were no multiple scientist errors. I also made sure to use the same equipment and conditions to make sure to get the most accurate results.

The science behind this experiment revolves around the different states of matter. H2O is an example of a molecule that can form all three states of matter. When water reaches its freezing point (32 Degrees Fahrenheit) the molecules start to move closer and closer together into there is no room to move. This causes the solid state of ice. The boiling point of water (212  degrees Fahrenheit) causes the molecules to spread apart rapidly causing the water to turn into a gas. My experiment revolved around testing different variables revolving around these scientific concepts. The data from my experiment 1 showed that hot water freezes faster on average than cold water does. This means my hypothesis was incorrect. Experiment 2's results showed that hot water reaches the boiling point faster on average than cold water does. Experiment 3 results showed that salt water freezes slower than regular water. This is because the salt molecules interfere with the water molecules when they are starting to move closer together forming a solid. These experiments provide many real world applications. If someone was trying to freeze water as fast as possible (ex. need ice cubes for a dinner party) they would need to know that hotter water freezes faster. Or if someone was trying to boil water for dinner as fast as they could they would need to know that hotter water boils faster. If someone was trying to prevent water from freezing for whatever reason, they would need to know that salt in the water would slow the process down.