Melting Pot Experiment

Age Group: 9-12 years

Duration: 15 minutes + 30 minutes (+ overnight freezing time)

Biomimicry Connection:

This activity involves mimicking a natural adaptation found in Arctic animals, specifically the insulating properties of blubber. It teaches students about how blubber helps Arctic animals survive in freezing conditions and encourages them to explore how this natural insulation mechanism works, by comparing the insulating properties of shortening (simulating blubber) with the open air. Mimicking blubber has already led to the development of better insulated wetsuits. Can you think of other applications?

Activity Details:

Tools and Materials

• Two cups or containers of equal size (plastic or glass)
• Shortening
• Access to a freezer
• Ice cubes
• Timer or stopwatch
• Recording materials (notebook, pen, or digital device to record data)

Preparations

1. Place an ice cube of the same size in both cups.
2. Cover the ice cube in one of the cups with shortening so that it is completely wrapped. Place the other ice cube in a cup without anything added.
3. Place both cups in a freezer so that the shortening is frozen before the start of the lesson.

Description

The purpose of this experiment is to compare the insulating properties of water versus a substance that simulates blubber:

1. Once the shortening is frozen, remove the cups from the freezer.
2. Observe and record how long it takes for each ice cube to melt completely in each cup. Compare the melting times of the ice cubes in the two cups.

Expect to find that the ice cube placed within the cup containing shortening (mimicking blubber) will melt at a significantly slower rate compared to the ice cube exposed to the open air. This outcome demonstrates the insulating properties of blubber, akin to those used by seals to maintain their body temperature in frigid waters.

Additional Information

Read more about the properties of blubber (here).