Contextualization

Science and the study of thermometry - the measurement of temperature - and calorimetry - the study of energy exchanges - are fundamental to understanding the nature around us. Heat and temperature are distinct concepts, but often confused. Temperature is a measure of the average kinetic energy of particles in an object, while heat is the total transfer of kinetic energy from one part of the object to another or between objects due to a temperature difference.

In this project, you will explore the concepts of heat and temperature, as well as their differences. Through practical activities, you will enhance your theoretical knowledge and experimentally prove the theories studied.

Throughout daily life, we encounter situations where heat and temperature play a central role. This ranges from deciding what clothes to wear according to the weather forecast, choosing the ideal temperature to cook food, or even in the process of refrigerating food for preservation. Furthermore, the study of these concepts is essential in many areas of science and technology, such as meteorology, medicine, engineering, and physics.

The physical and chemical processes that occur around us and in our own bodies are closely linked to temperature and heat. For example, the sensation of heat or cold when touching an object is directly related to the transfer of heat between the object and our skin, and this is mediated by temperature. Therefore, understanding these concepts can help us better understand the world around us and may even allow us to develop technologies to control and manipulate these properties.

To delve deeper into the concepts of heat and temperature, we recommend the following resources:

1. Brazil School - Heat and Temperature
2. World Education - Calorimetry
3. Only Physics - Thermometry

Practical Activity: Experiments with Heat and Temperature

1. Project Objective

In this activity, you will put into practice the concepts of heat and temperature by conducting experiments that will help you better understand these phenomena. The goal is that, by the end of the project, you will be able to differentiate between temperature, heat, and thermal sensation, and understand how they act in different everyday situations.

2. Detailed Project Description

Groups must carry out three simple experiments that demonstrate the difference between heat and temperature, as well as how they influence our thermal sensation. Each experiment will be followed by a discussion to consolidate learning.

3. Necessary Materials

For the experiments, the following materials will be needed:

• Three transparent glass or plastic containers
• Three thermometers
• Cold and hot water
• Ice cubes
• Kettle to heat water
• Various metals (e.g., coins, metal keys)
• A piece of paper
• Lighter or matches
• Thermal gloves

4. Methodology

Experiment 1 - Comparing Temperatures

1. Fill two containers with the same amount of water, one with cold water and the other with warm water.
2. Place a thermometer in each container and record the initial temperatures.
3. Add an ice cube to each container.
4. Record the temperatures of the containers every minute for 10 minutes.
5. Compare the recorded temperatures and analyze the results.

Experiment 2 - Heat Transfer

1. Place different types of metals (coins, metal keys) in a container with hot water for 5 minutes.
2. After the time, remove the metals (use thermal gloves to prevent burns) and place them in a container with cold water.
3. Observe the water's reaction and report what happened.

Experiment 3 - Thermal Sensation

1. Place a piece of paper in the freezer and leave it for a few minutes.
2. Take the paper (which will be very cold) and hold it with one hand, and with the other hand, hold a piece of paper at room temperature.
3. Record the thermal sensation of each hand.

After conducting the experiments, each group must prepare a report with observations, results, and discussions related to each experiment. The report should be structured as follows:

1. Introduction - Provide context on the topic, its relevance, and real-world applications, as well as the objective of this project.
2. Development - Explain the theory behind the central theme(s) of the project, describe the activity in detail (describe the experiments, the methodology used), and finally present and discuss the results obtained.
3. Conclusion - Conclude the work by summarizing its main points, explaining the learnings obtained, and drawing conclusions about the project.
4. Bibliography - Indicate the sources you relied on to work on the project such as books, web pages, videos, etc.

Each group has one week from the start date to conduct the experiments and submit the written report.