Burn a Peanut
Source Institutions
-
The Exploratorium
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In this activity, learners burn a peanut, which produces a flame that can be used to boil away water and count the calories contained in the peanut. Learners use a formula to calculate the calories in a peanut and then differentiate between food calories and physicist calories as well as calories and joules.
- Under 5 minutes
- 10 to 30 minutes
- $5 - $10 per group of students
- Ages 11 - 18
- Activity
- English
Quick Guide
Materials List (per group of students)
- fresh peanuts
- 20 mL or larger test tubes (Larger tubes are better)
- test tube holders (e.g. ring stand with test tube clamp)
- 10 mL of water (Measure it with a graduated cylinder)
- large paper clips
- aluminum plates
- sticky tape
- matches
- scale
Subjects
- Life Sciences
- Human Body
- Health and Nutrition
- Human Body
- Mathematics
- Algebra
- Equations and Inequalities
- Variables and Expressions
- Data Analysis and Probability
- Data Collection
- Measurement
- Number and Operations
- Multiples and Factors
- Algebra
- Physical Sciences
- Heat and Thermodynamics
- Heat and Temperature
- Heat Transfer
- Energy
- Energy and Power
- Structure and Properties of Matter
- Mass and Weight
- Volume and Density
- Heat and Thermodynamics
- The Nature of Science
- The Scientific Process
- Conducting Investigations
- Gathering Data
- The Scientific Process
Informal Categories
- Food and Cooking
Audience
To use this activity, learners need to:
- see
- read
- touch
Learning styles supported:
- Involves hands-on or lab activities
Other
Components that are part of this resource:
This resource is part of:
Access Rights:
- Free access
By:
- Doherty, Paul
Rights:
- All Rights Reserved, Exploratorium, ©2000
