Thermoregulation of Different Sized Cubes of Clay

Abstract

Our experiment is based on the diffusion of heat. We chose to study the diffusion of heat in clay because we could precisely measure the mass of the cubes being used by heating the cubes to 36 degrees Celsius, then monitoring the cooling within the two minutes after being taken away from the heating pad. Our results for all three cubes show a gradual cooling in one trial, yet spike slightly in temperature in another. We believe the spike happened because the heat radiated from the outside of the cube while the temperature probe was in the center of the cube.