Melting Ice

Project #1535 on iSENSEProject.org

This project compares three substances using a Vernier temperature probe. First was plain ice, second was ice with regular table salt, and the third was sidewalk salt (ice melt). The purpose is to compare the "normal" temperature of each and at what point the temperature begins to rise

With each test, 15 ice cubes were used. Between each test, both the bowl and probe were returned to room temperature.

For test 1 (plain ice), the probe was inserted and data collection began as soon as the ice was put in the bowl.

For the other 2 tests, the probe was inserted and salt was added before data collection began. (I would like to try this again, not adding the salt products until 2 minutes into the process, once the temperature had normalized a bit.)

(Side note: the little blip in the data for the salt & ice was caused by one of my dogs who decided to investigate for himself and pulled the probe out the of bowl for a few seconds!)

Guiding questions:

1) Which substance: plain ice, ice with the salt, or ice with ice melt maintained the coldest "normal" temperature? Why do you think that is?

2) At what time and temperature did each substance hit it's lowest temperature?