Often times in school, class can be boring, and a basic wipe board lesson with notes isn’t enough to get the information across to us as students. For this reason, a hands on, interactive lesson can sometimes be a better option. This is the best way to describe the Science Fair we had last week.
For the fair, my project investigated the science behind ice cream making. I tested how different salts affected the freezing point of water, and which ones took the longest for ice crystals to form. Using these measurements i determined which salt had the highest expected freezing point depression, or which one would lower the freezing point of water the most.
In addition, I did research on the physics and chemistry involved in the experiment – when salt mixes with water, endothermic reaction occurs. The ice absorbs energy from the liquid and becomes colder. I also discussed how the ions in salt separate the water molecules and prevent them from coming together to form bonds and become solid, lowering water’s freezing point. This principle is used to make ice creams, as salt lowers the freezing point and helps to maintain the frosty consistency. I also made ice creams and provided small samples for the judges and other visitors who came to my booth.
All in all, it was a great experience, and i look forward to doing new experiments in the next year.
So, what do you think ?