Activity 1: Scientific Method and States of Matter

Scientific Method and States of Matter Experiment

Experimental Questions:

1. Does hot water or cold water freeze faster?

2. Does hot water or cold water boil faster?

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

Materials used for Experiment:

• Iodized salt
• Tap water
• Stainless steel pan
• Glass measuring cup
• Plastic ice cube tray
• Thermometer with temperature range of -58 to 302 Degrees Fahrenheit 
• Electric Stove
• Freezer

My Hypothesis:

1. If I freeze the same amount of water at different temperatures, in the same type of container, the water with the colder temperature will freeze faster.
2. If I boil the same amount of water at different temperatures, with the same type of container and burner, the water with the warmer temperature will boil faster.
3. If I freeze the same amount of water salt water and tap water at the same average temperatures, in the same type of container, the water without the salt will freeze faster.

Data Collected:

Type of water	Start Temp. (F)	Time until boiling point met
Hot Tap Water	114.6	4 minutes 00 seconds
Hot Tap Water	114	4 minutes 06 seconds
Hot Tap Water	113.7	3 minutes 25 seconds
Cold Tap Water	51.6	4 minutes 53 seconds
Cold Tap Water	49.2	4 minutes 49 seconds
Cold Tap Water	49.1	5 minutes 41 seconds

Average of 3 minutes 50 seconds for hot water to boil.

Average of 5 minutes 08 seconds for cold water to boil.

Type of water	Start Temp. (F)	Time until freezing point met
Regular Tap Water	72.3	50
Regular Tap Water	72.3	51
Regular Tap Water	72.3	49.5
Regular Tap Water with Salt	72.3	46
Regular Tap Water with Salt	72.3	46
Regular Tap Water with Salt	72.3	46
Cold Tap Water	51.6	32
Cold Tap Water	51.6	33
Cold Tap Water	51.6	16.5
Hot Tap Water	95	33
Hot Tap Water	95	32.9
Hot Tap Water	95	32

Average of 50 minutes for regular water to reach freezing point.

Average of 46 minutes for regular salt water to reach freezing point.

Average of 27 minutes for cold water to reach freezing point.

Average of 32 minutes 30 seconds for hot water to reach freezing point.

Controlled Variables:

• 2 Cups of Water boiled each time
• Burner used
• Pan used
• Setting on stove was used
• Amount of salt in salt water
• Amount of water to freeze
• Same ice cube tray
• Temperature when used to freeze

Theories Formulated from experiment:

1. When hot water, starting at 95 degrees Fahrenheit, and cold water, starting at 51.6 degrees Fahrenheit, are put in a freezer to freeze, on average, the cold water will reach the freezing point faster.
2. When hot water, starting average at 114.1 degrees Fahrenheit, and cold water, starting average at 49.97 degrees Fahrenheit, are put on a stove burner to boil on High, on average, the hot water will reach the boiling point faster.
3. When salt water, starting at 72.3 degrees Fahrenheit, and regular water, starting at 72.3 degrees Fahrenheit, are put in a freezer to freeze, on average, the salt water will reach the freezing point faster.

Atoms that make up water molecules:

http://www.sd84.k12.id.us/sms/departments/susan.augustyn/atoms/atoms.htm

Animation showing how water molecules are arranged in three states of matter for water:

http://youtu.be/moITG5Q7zzI 

Scientific Method Process for this experiment:

1. Ask a question
1. Three questions were provided to be answered: Does hot water or cold water freeze faster? Does hot water or cold water boil faster? Does salt water freeze faster or slower than regular water?
2. Do Background research
1. Knowledge of water molecules was investigated and information was found in form or pictures and animations.
3. Construct a Hypothesis
1. Based upon life experience and information discovered, my three hypothesis were created: If I freeze the same amount of water at different temperatures, in the same type of container, the water with the colder temperature will freeze faster. If I boil the same amount of water at different temperatures, with the same type of container and burner, the water with the warmer temperature will boil faster. If I freeze the same amount of water salt water and tap water at the same average temperatures, in the same type of container, the water without the salt will freeze faster.
4. Test Hypothesis by Doing and Experiment
1. I tested my hypothesis by doing an experiment of boiling and freezing water with various temperatures. Each experiment was conducted three times in attempt to reduce scientific error. 
5. Analyze Data and Draw a Conclusion
1. Data from the experiments was collected in different tables. The tables allowed a conclusions to be made based upon the results shown.
6. Communicating Results
1. Based on the results found, three theories have been been formulated that may either rejected or accepted and undergo further testing. Two of my hypothesis appear to be correct, but there will have to be further testing prior to creating a theory. One hypothesis was incorrect, therefore my hypothesis will have to be changed or another experiment conducted.

Reliability of Experiment:

There are many variables that took place in this experiment that counteract the reliability of the experiment. Some of these variables may include stove burner putting off the same amount of heat every time or the burner being warmer to start with. Another may be the amount or temperature of the water used in each experiment. A large variable that puts the reliability of the ice experiment at risk is having the water in the fridge to freeze. In order to check on the water/ice, it was necessary to open the door and air surrounding the experiment then became affected by the change in atmosphere. It was also difficult to see and test properly in the freezer portion of a refrigerator.

This experiment can be repeated elsewhere, though it may be difficult to come up with the same results. 

On average, each of the experiment results, when tested three times, were close to the same, except for a few natural phenomenons. This occurred when there was a random occurrence of need for less or more time that what was expected based upon previous results.

Statement:
In this activity, I conducted three different experiments. With doing all three experiments, I was able to observe water's three states of matter: Solid, Liquid, and Gas. To get to these three states, I first started with liquid water and either brought it to boiling point at 212 degrees Fahrenheit and observed the gas rise from the water, or brought the temperature down to 32 degrees Fahrenheit and observed that water freeze into solid ice. I was able to observe these changes in matter (solid-to-liquid-to-gas) by doing just one thing, changing the temperature. To know when the water was coming close to a change, I used thermometers to measure the temperature and see how close or far away the water was to the boiling or freezing point.

This experiment that I conducted was quite simple and can be conducted in various places with a variety of results. While performing and planning this experiment, I noticed many places for human error to impact the results of my experiment, though I did my best to prevent errors, I doubt that all were prevented. Through doing this experiment, I tried to prove my hypothesis. These were created by what I thought of as common sense answers to the questions. After the experiment was completed, I concluded that: When hot water, starting at 95 degrees Fahrenheit, and cold water, starting at 51.6 degrees Fahrenheit, are put in a freezer to freeze, on average, the cold water will reach the freezing point faster. When hot water, starting average at 114.1 degrees Fahrenheit, and cold water, starting average at 49.97 degrees Fahrenheit, are put on a stove burner to boil on High, on average, the hot water will reach the boiling point faster. When salt water, starting at 72.3 degrees Fahrenheit, and regular water, starting at 72.3 degrees Fahrenheit, are put in a freezer to freeze, on average, the salt water will reach the freezing point faster. Through this experiment, everyday knowledge has been created.

This information allows me to make more efficient decisions in everyday life. So now, when I'm trying to boil water quickly, I'll use hot water, because cold water will take at least a couple of minutes longer to boil. When I'm trying to freeze water quickly, I'll use cold water, because hot water takes longer to cool and reach the freezing point. Though I am not sure why, the salt water made it to the freezing point first, it did not create as hard of ice as regular water. This is probably why salt is put on the road during winter, because salt allows tires to have more traction than on solid ice.