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Testing Insulators: Ice Cube in a Box Photo Credit: PBS Zoom View larger

Testing Insulators: Ice Cube in a Box

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In this activity, patrons work together to see how they can effectively slow the melting of an ice cube. They construct containers for their ice cubes using materials like cardboard, newspaper, aluminum foil, and tape. These containers create an insulating environment designed to keep heat away from the ice cube.

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Related Programming Resources

Add a Tech Twist Optional; try using an infrared thermometer to determine the temperature
Hints for uses in your library Large ice cubes that are both the same size and shape should be used for this activity.
Facilitator Guide Keep a Cube
Related Links The Physics of Keeping Cool
The Science of Keeping Cool
Making Stuff Colder Project Guide
There's No Such Thing as Cold | It's Okay to Be Smart
Temperature | Crash Course Physics
Thermal Energy Transfer
Teaching About Heat and Thermal Energy: A STEM Professional Development Module
How Does a Thermos Work?
Temperature Scavenger Hunt | Cyberchase
Keeping things cool
Keep a Cube
Cube Cooler—An Engineering Design Challenge
WHAT MATERIAL WILL KEEP ICE LOLLIES THE COOLEST?
Originating Source Zoom PBS
Related Books
[Suggest a book] 		Why does ice melt? by Jim Pipe
Waiting for ice by Sandra Markle and Alan Marks
Freezing and melting by Robin Nelson
Temperature : heating up and cooling down by Darlene R Stille
Is it hot or cold? : learning to use a thermometer by Carrie Stuart
Too hot? too cold? : keeping body temperature just right by Caroline Arnold and Annie Patterson

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Testing Insulators: Ice Cube in a Box

Testing Insulators: Ice Cube in a Box

In this activity, patrons work together to see how they can effectively slow the melting of an ice cube. They construct containers for their ice cubes using materials like cardboard, newspaper, aluminum foil, and tape. These containers create an insulating environment designed to keep heat away from the ice cube.