Conduction

Materials:

• Tall glass
• Plastic beads
• Wooden spoon
• Plastic spoon
• Metal spoon
• Drinking straw
• Pan of hot water
• Butter or margerine

Method:

1)     Use the butter to stick a bead to the end of each of the spoons and the straw.

2)     Stand them upright in the glass.

3)     Pour hot water in so it covers the bottom third of each spoon/straw. Observe what happens to the beads over the next few minutes.

Explanation: Conduction is the transfer of heat from one material to another through direct contact. Heat spreads (conducts) through some materials better than others. In this experiment, the spoon who loses its bead first is the best conductor.

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