Reheating Thermos
During this project, we exercised our knowledge of energy in chemical reactions. Our instructions were to design and build a device that utilized the power of chemical energy. From our first brainstorming session, our group agreed that we wanted to create a product that harnesses the heat of a chemical reaction for a product that can benefit people in daily life. After many ideas. We decided to create a hot beverage cup that could reheat a drink inside it after it become cold. In order to make this happen, we did many tests such as various exothermic reactions, ratios of chemicals, and materials. After these trials, we selected the most optimal of the candidates that we had available to us and began to build a prototype. From there, we could begin to tweak specific variables, until our product began working better and better. By the end of our project work days, our thermos was by no means commercially ready, yet we all agreed that we had developed a strong concept and were proud of our functional prototype.
Our Presentation
Proof of Efficacy Document
Key Concepts
calorimeter
chemical energy
endothermic reaction
exothermic reaction
insulation
specific heat capacity
Reflection
Like all projects I have encountered in the STEM program so far, this one had some successful and fulfilling moments as well as some frustrating ones. One example of the latter happened when our group made the mistake of relaying a little too heavily on technology and had to deal with the repercussions of our mistake. We lost data that we had collected in the span of two days, and redoing it set us back quite a bit. Luckily, having done the experiments before, the second attempt was much faster. Also, during a substantial portion of our work weeks, I dealt with pretty severe health issues. Unfortunately this caused many absences and greatly hindered my ability to be productive at home. It was very challenging to play and active role in my group and make sure the process was running smoothly.
The hurdles of this project definitely came with a positive spin. I gained a valuable ability to find more abstract ways to be helpful to my group, when I couldn’t be as hands on as I may have liked. Being stuck at home helped me think outside the box to be useful in a way I haven’t had to before. Also, my group for this project was special because we all choose and worked on aspects of our project that played to our strengths, makinging class time cohesive to a degree that I don’t often see. Work days were not only productive, but honestly quite a pleasure.
The hurdles of this project definitely came with a positive spin. I gained a valuable ability to find more abstract ways to be helpful to my group, when I couldn’t be as hands on as I may have liked. Being stuck at home helped me think outside the box to be useful in a way I haven’t had to before. Also, my group for this project was special because we all choose and worked on aspects of our project that played to our strengths, makinging class time cohesive to a degree that I don’t often see. Work days were not only productive, but honestly quite a pleasure.