Apparently we have moved beyond leaf juice, as evidenced by the list of potential fuels she showed me last night:
- Cranberry Juice
- Tap Water
- Fresh Water (presumably from lakes and/or streams)
- Olive Oil
- Ginger Ale
- Vinegar
To determine which of these will work, she plans to set them on fire in the kitchen, and measure which one (or combination of many) creates the most steam. I now have to find the balance between encouraging her scientific endeavors and creative thinking, and preventing untold damage to person and property.
Motherhood is definitely an interesting state of being.
3 comments:
She scares me, your little steampunk inven-tor.
You could burn an equal amount (mass in grams, please) in a metal container suspended in a styrofoam cup filled with water and a thermometer. The idea is to measure the temperature increase of the water, allowing you to calculate the energy of the reaction. This is an open (constant pressure) calorimeter, and much safer than the more accurate "bomb calorimeter."
Other thoughts:
1. Aqueous solutions just don't burn well, sadly
2. Using styrofoam cups in experiments aimed at saving the environment provide for delicious irony.
Jim,
I did point out that oil was going to make smoke, not steam, and that water doesn't burn, but she's pretty intent on doing this. If nothing else, it'll be a learning experience!
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