This experiment is about heat absorption. You are going to try and find out which colors absorb more heat than other.



Here are the questions you should be able to answer after you have completed this science fair project:

1. Which ice cube melted the most?

2. How did the colors effect the melting of the ice cubes?

3. What does this fact tell you about the heat absorption of colors?

4. Do dark colors absorb more heat than light colors?

Now we have to start our experiment:

Do you know what the first thing is you need to do? Yes, you have to formulate your hypothesis! In doing this experiment to see which ice cube, covered in different colors, melts the most, what do you think your hypothesis should be? Okay it is: Do dark colors absorb more heat than light colors.

What you need for this easy science fair project (it is called the materials):

* Several different colors of fabric about 6 or 7 inches square, as many as you can but at least 5 different colors

* A pair of scissors

* An ice cube for each color of fabric, the ice cubes must be more or less the same size

* A good food scale that can weigh very small differences

* A large cookie sheet or a tray

* A pen

* A note book

* A camera

How you have to do this experiment (it is called the procedure):

1. Cut the pieces of fabric to a size a little larger than the tops of the ice cubes

2. Now you have to weigh each ice cube and make a note of the weight

3. Place the ice cubes on the cookie tray

4. Take a photo for your display

5. Cover each ice cube with a piece of fabric

6. Make sure you write down which color you placed over which ice cube as you have to work out the percentage of weight each cube lost late on.

7. Once again take a photo for your display

8. Place the cookie tray in direct sunlight

9. Leave it for 15 minutes, if it is not too hot. If it is very hot and the cubes are going to melt very fast you have to check on them sooner. This you will have to work out for yourself

10. Take a photo for your display

11. Bring the ice cubes back in and take a photo for your display

12. Weigh each ice cube as fast as possible to prevent further melting

13. Write down each one's weight

14. Now you have to determine the percentage of weight each cube has lost. This is how you do it: you take the beginning weight of the ice cube and you subtract the end weigh of the ice cube from it. This amount you divide by the beginning weight multiplied by a hundred to get the percentage. A formula to show you this will be easier:

(Beginning weight) - (final weight)/ Beginning weight X 100 = percentage melted

Can you think of what else you can do for your display now? Yes, you have to make a graph to show the differences in percentage each ice cube melted.

Now you can come to your conclusion about the difference in heat different colors absorbs.

If you have more time for science fair projects to do, you can take this experiment further by doing the same, but placing the tray in the fridge or by covering it with a cardboard box to see if it makes any difference to the results and to formulate why you think it makes a difference. For instance, does the heat absorption of the cardboard box play any role in it?