Notice: Function _load_textdomain_just_in_time was called incorrectly. Translation loading for the acf domain was triggered too early. This is usually an indicator for some code in the plugin or theme running too early. Translations should be loaded at the init action or later. Please see Debugging in WordPress for more information. (This message was added in version 6.7.0.) in /home/ulxplorlabs/public_html/site/wp-includes/functions.php on line 6131

Warning: session_start(): Session cannot be started after headers have already been sent in /home/ulxplorlabs/public_html/site/assets/themes/fw-parent/functions.php on line 10
Heat Transfer and Ignition: Student Guide – UL Xplorlabs

Deprecated: Optional parameter $parent_id declared before required parameter $level is implicitly treated as a required parameter in /home/ulxplorlabs/public_html/site/assets/themes/fw-parent/elements/menu.php on line 11

Menu

Heat Transfer and Ignition: Student Guide

This asset includes 1 files:

Classroom Investigation 02: Heat Transfer and Ignition Student Guide (pdf, 2 MB)

This student guide supports students as they make observations about how thermal energy is transferred and how transferred heat starts fires. Students compare the surface to mass ratio of a block of wood and a toothpick, then compare how easily they ignite. Students then make observations about how different materials ignite and burn

Context

Solids and liquids do not burn. Gases burn. Solids and liquids are broken down into simpler molecular compounds (a chemical change) by the effects of heat. These gases are the products of decomposition and that is what burns in a fire.

In a candle, how do we go from solid wax to gaseous fuel? The wax isn’t burning until we add heat from the lighter or match, and then the heat is consistently applied by the burning wick. The solid wax is fuel, but does not burn until heat is applied.

Many things are fuel and can burn – things around us every day like clothes, hair, carpeting, furniture, etc. If heat comes into contact at a fast-enough rate, solids can turn to gaseous fuel through pyrolysis.

Knowing that when heat is applied, solids and liquids can turn to gaseous fuels, we need to know how heat is transferred. There are three main methods of heat transfer: 1) conduction, 2) convection, and 3) radiation.

Questions

  • How do fires spread?
  • How do fires start?

Problem to be solved

  • When we know how heat is transferred, we can better understand the fire scene.
  • Knowing the ignition of different materials helps fire investigators understand/read a burn scene.

Be sure to explore the video showing this classroom investigation and related teacher guide.

Find this asset
Module
The Science of Fire Forensics
More like this:
Asset Library

The Science of Thermal Runaway

Engineering Solutions

From hoverboards to cell phones, portable electrical power makes life as we know it possible. But it can come with some dangerous possibilities. Let’s investigate, experiment and search for solutions.

The Science of Extraction to E-Waste

Trade-Offs & the Supply Chain

Safe and sustainable cities will depend on lithium-ion batteries to power our modern lives. But what are the costs?

The Science of Fire Forensics

Claims, Evidence and Reasoning

There’s been a fire. Your students’ job will be to figure out where the fire started, and how.