Melting wax

Back to 4B - Heat and the first law
PIRA index: 4B10.30

Description

Multiple rods of different thermal conductivities are connected to a central metal piece. When heated, those metal conduct heat at different rate, demonstrated by placing balls of wax at the extremities of each rods and heating the center.

Equipment

• Multiple rod thingy
• Paraffin
• Heat source (torch, lighter, candle, etc.)
• Water in a container + brown paper

Instructions

Place the central part over the heat source. Wait and note the order at which each ball of paraffin start to melt. Once every ball has started melting, turn off the heat source and place the apparatus in water to cool it off and then dry it.

Keywords

• heat conduction, wax, metal