Food as Fuel

Students are to discover that calories are a real source of heat. We keep track of calories in food because we want to know how much stored energy is in the food.

This is a lab that will be used with 9-12 grade students at an alternative school. The class will have 10-15 students. No special equipment is required. This is taught toward the end of the year student will have mastered most skills.

Food as Fuel Name____________

Objective: Find the amount of calories in different foods. Students will compare the amount of calories found experimentally with the values found on the food packages.

Students will:
Read the rest of the activity and make a data table in their journal before they begin the experiment.

Pick different foods to burn.

Bend a paper clip to hold the food sample.

Determine the difference in temperature of 25ml of water in a small beaker.

Calculate the temperature increase per gram of fuel.

Compare which fuels produced the greatest temperature change per gram of fuel.

Reflect on what you have learned from this experience in your journal.

Extension questions:

What is the cost of the fuel per gram?
What is the temperature increase per dollar for each fuel?
How does your calculation of kilo-calories compare to what is on the package?
How does the fuel you used compare to gasoline in heat value and cost per calorie?

Safety Keep hair and clothing away from an open flame. Use normal safety procedures for an open flame.

All the students will make tables and graphs in journals of the calories released by different foods. The students will need to reflect on what they have done. I will assess the journals for accuracy. Students will also be assessed on participation in the groups by the other members of the group.

II C. Energy Transformations 1.5.