Re: [Phys-l] Thermal mass

["Karshner, Gary" <gkarshner@stmarytx.edu>]

One demonstration or experiment is to compare the cooling times of water and another liquid -say glycerin. Put a beaker of both in a water bath remove and let the students follow the dropping of the temperatures. The glycerin should cool about twice as fast as the water. Of course the high specific heat of water is why everything from  "the watched pot never boils" to why the coldest days of winter or hottest of summer are solstices, etc.     
Gary

-----Original Message-----
From: phys-l-bounces@carnot.physics.buffalo.edu [mailto:phys-l-bounces@carnot.physics.buffalo.edu] On Behalf Of brian whatcott
Sent: Saturday, April 23, 2011 1:51 PM
To: phys-l@carnot.physics.buffalo.edu
Subject: Re: [Phys-l] Thermal mass

It's a pity that none of your pointers seemed functional. We have a 
school house at Duke - within ten miles - that is an Earth-insulated 
design - and this seems to work pretty well, as far as I have heard.

The idea of limiting the thermally conductive paths to the variable 
ambient, and interposing thermal mass
(mass times specific heat) for irradiation at the preferred temperature: 
a southern day exposure when solar heating is desired, a night  exposure 
when cooling is wanted, along with passive or active ways of sharing 
this resource with the inhabited volume.  I suppose nucleaar 
infiltration is a concern...

Brian W

On 4/23/2011 8:00 AM, Dr Holly Priestley wrote:
> Good morning.
>
> I have a favor to ask of members of the list.  I am on the education
> committee of Silver Lake Nature Center, Bristol, PA.
>
> http://www.silverlakenaturecenter.org/
>
> - I am not sure if this is the newest website or not - it appears to be but
> events are dated.
>
>
>
> The Nature Center has received a grant to build an Earthship (house) for a
> new education building as well as a model for teaching about Earthship
> technology.  This will be the first Earthship on the East coast.
>
> http://www.silverlakenaturecenter.org/index.php?option=com_content
> <http://www.silverlakenaturecenter.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=art
> icle&id=177&Itemid=280>  &view=article&id=177&Itemid=280
>
> (info on their Earthship)
>
>
>
> http://www.earthship.org/  Earthship information in general (in case you
> have no idea about Earthships)
>
>
>
> For our next meeting we are asked to try and find laboratory experience/s
> that deal with thermal mass that could be used in teaching about an
> Earthship.  (i.e. how an Earthship keeps a constant internal temperature).
> The target audience is JR-HS and HS levels.
>
>
>
> Hubby teaches physics and is helping me search for such a lab.  I've tried
> searching on line and found several demonstrations but they may be too
> complicated for the level needed, space (and money) available.
>
>
>
> If you know of any laboratory experiences, please contact me personally or
> through the list.  Also, please feel free to cross post to other lists.
>
> Thank you so much -
>
> Holly Priestley, EdD
>
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> Forum for Physics Educators
> Phys-l@carnot.physics.buffalo.edu
> https://carnot.physics.buffalo.edu/mailman/listinfo/phys-l

_______________________________________________
Forum for Physics Educators
Phys-l@carnot.physics.buffalo.edu
https://carnot.physics.buffalo.edu/mailman/listinfo/phys-l