Evidence of Work:
For this project I was tasked to create something that took chemical energy and convert it to another useful energy source. This was challenging for me at first because I had limited supplies and no idea what to do. After some research, I decided to create reusable hand warmers. I used sodium acetate, water, and a clip in a sealed bag to create the hand warmer. The mixture pulls in energy when the sodium acetate dissolves into the water. When the clip activates it, the crystals of sodium acetate form, releasing the energy captured as heat. This better represents a phase change but it still produced a new kind of energy. In the end both the hand warmers I made worked. It took a little while to get the clip to activate the process but they both gave off thermal energy. When the ionic solution is being created, it takes energy to separate the positive sodium from the negative acetate. That energy is stored in the solution until the clip starts the phase change and that energy is released. It is given off as thermal energy so it can warm up your hands.
For this project I was tasked to create something that took chemical energy and convert it to another useful energy source. This was challenging for me at first because I had limited supplies and no idea what to do. After some research, I decided to create reusable hand warmers. I used sodium acetate, water, and a clip in a sealed bag to create the hand warmer. The mixture pulls in energy when the sodium acetate dissolves into the water. When the clip activates it, the crystals of sodium acetate form, releasing the energy captured as heat. This better represents a phase change but it still produced a new kind of energy. In the end both the hand warmers I made worked. It took a little while to get the clip to activate the process but they both gave off thermal energy. When the ionic solution is being created, it takes energy to separate the positive sodium from the negative acetate. That energy is stored in the solution until the clip starts the phase change and that energy is released. It is given off as thermal energy so it can warm up your hands.
Content:
1st Law of Thermodynamics- energy cannot be created or destroyed, only converted into other forms. This is the whole idea behind this project because the chemical energy isn't lost, it is changed into thermal energy.
Ionic Solution- a solution that is filled with ions. Ionic compounds separate into cations and anions when in the solution. The sodium acetate in water is the ionic solution in this project.
Phase Change- when a substance changes from one state to another. The three most common states are solid, liquid, and gas. One example of a phase change is ice (solid) melting into water (liquid).
Exothermic- when something is exothermic it releases or gives off energy. During the phase change, the hand warmer is releasing the energy it needed to separate the ionic compound making it exothermic.
Thermal Energy- A type of energy that is given as heat. All heat that exists is thermal energy. It is released when the phase change occurs in this project.
Energy Transfer- when energy changes from one type to another. All energy is conserved but can change between the different types. Some examples are mechanical, chemical, and electrical energy.
Reflection:
I really liked this project because it helped me take a break from screens and electronics. It was also a little difficult due to the circumstances we are in because of covid. During this project I felt like I pushed myself to do more then I normally would've. I actually made a prototype at home with all the materials. This pushed me because normally I am working with a group of people that all help. It was fun to work on this project and actually get a working prototype out of it. I also felt like i persevered through this project. I had to adjust and redo the process many times until the hand warmers actually worked. I also could have been better at time management. Because I am working at home, it is easier to procrastinate and become less organized. I left the actual project part for the last few days and didn't spread it out. Another low I had was staying focused on the project. Going along with the time management, it was hard for me to stay on task while at home. Many other projects around the house or for other classes distracted me. In conclusion, this project was a great way to end this unpredictable year and i'm so glad I was able to get the help I needed from my teachers to finish the semester.
1st Law of Thermodynamics- energy cannot be created or destroyed, only converted into other forms. This is the whole idea behind this project because the chemical energy isn't lost, it is changed into thermal energy.
Ionic Solution- a solution that is filled with ions. Ionic compounds separate into cations and anions when in the solution. The sodium acetate in water is the ionic solution in this project.
Phase Change- when a substance changes from one state to another. The three most common states are solid, liquid, and gas. One example of a phase change is ice (solid) melting into water (liquid).
Exothermic- when something is exothermic it releases or gives off energy. During the phase change, the hand warmer is releasing the energy it needed to separate the ionic compound making it exothermic.
Thermal Energy- A type of energy that is given as heat. All heat that exists is thermal energy. It is released when the phase change occurs in this project.
Energy Transfer- when energy changes from one type to another. All energy is conserved but can change between the different types. Some examples are mechanical, chemical, and electrical energy.
Reflection:
I really liked this project because it helped me take a break from screens and electronics. It was also a little difficult due to the circumstances we are in because of covid. During this project I felt like I pushed myself to do more then I normally would've. I actually made a prototype at home with all the materials. This pushed me because normally I am working with a group of people that all help. It was fun to work on this project and actually get a working prototype out of it. I also felt like i persevered through this project. I had to adjust and redo the process many times until the hand warmers actually worked. I also could have been better at time management. Because I am working at home, it is easier to procrastinate and become less organized. I left the actual project part for the last few days and didn't spread it out. Another low I had was staying focused on the project. Going along with the time management, it was hard for me to stay on task while at home. Many other projects around the house or for other classes distracted me. In conclusion, this project was a great way to end this unpredictable year and i'm so glad I was able to get the help I needed from my teachers to finish the semester.