Week Three

Week Three: Materials McGuyver

This week, we started testing out the materials we ordered for our demonstrators and found a few complications. It will be a little challenging to form a model of thermal expansion using foam balls and springs, but it will be harder to find springs of varying tensions that are big enough to effectively display the effects. We also were able to test the brass ball and hoop model we ordered for the demonstration of a metal's thermal expansion.

The testing of the brass ball and hoop model was a little tricky; we had to use three different heat sources before the ball expanded, effectively getting stuck in the hoop. We first tried a hot air gun, and then a small hand torch, before finally using an actual blow torch that quickly heated up the brass ball. We will have to consult with our advisors when deciding what we can and cannot use to heat the demonstration; the experiment requires an open flame which could be dangerous, so we will have to either get an approval or find an alternative source of heat.

According to our Gantt Chart and Project Timeline, we are a little ahead of schedule. We have already started testing our demonstrators, which is good, but we still have not decided if we are keeping the balloon demonstration for our project or not. The hardest part of it will be obtaining dry ice that can be kept for a long period of time. Dr. Knight suggested that we look into investing in liquid nitrogen; hopefully we will be able to get Mr. Burks opinion on which would be easier to purchase and maintain.