Hot or Not Lesson

Hot or Not at a glance

Background

Ever wonder why certain materials stay cool while others get hot? Or how the space shuttle could survive the intense heat of reentering Earth's atmosphere? This lesson will answer those questions by introducing students to the four ways heat can move: conduction, convection, radiation, and advection.

Students will explore how heat transfer works by looking at how materials like foam insulation and ceramic tiles help keep houses warm and protect space shuttles. They’ll learn that refractory materials—those that can withstand extremely high temperatures—are essential for many things, from making steel to keeping the space shuttle safe during its fiery descent.

Through hands-on activities, students will see how the properties of these materials, especially their ability to trap air and resist thermal shock, make them perfect for withstanding intense heat. They’ll also explore how both ceramic and metal refractory materials are used in everything from furnaces to light bulbs.

Lesson Objective

Students will learn how refractory materials are designed to withstand extremely high temperatures, making them essential for applications like space shuttle tiles and industrial furnaces. This lesson will explore how the insulating properties of porous ceramic bricks prevent heat transfer even under intense conditions.

Experiment Description

In this demonstration, a propane torch will be used to heat one side of a refractory brick, while the temperature on the other side is monitored with a thermometer. Students will observe how the brick effectively insulates against heat, keeping the unheated side cool.

Materials List

Refractory brick
Propane torch head
Small propane tank
Thermometer (e.g., meat thermometer)
Spark lighter or matches

Safety Precautions

Avoid touching the heated side of the refractory brick and do not look directly at the torch flame. Handle the torch and brick with care to prevent burns and damage.

The Experiment

1. Attach the propane torch head to the propane tank.

2. Show students the refractory brick.

3. Explain what refractory materials are and what they are used for.

4. Set up the refractory brick so that both sides can be seen and accessed. It is possible to hold the brick in your hand because the back side will remain cool.

5. Insert the thermometer on the side of the brick that will not be heated.

6. Heat the side of the brick without the thermometer.

7. Have a student read the temperature on the thermometer as the other side of the brick is heated.