Maximizing Thermal Energy
 

Middle school students were given a design challenge based on NGSS standards:

Design a cup that keeps ice water as cold as possible over a period of 1.5 hours. Begin with a base of a plastic cup with a plastic lid.  

Design Requirements:

• Lid must be removable

• Thermometer must be place through the lid into the liquid

• Maximum dimensions cannot exceed 3 cm beyond the plastic cup.

• Do not add another source of energy - only conserve the energy that is present.

Students brainstormed, researched, designed, built and tested their thermal cups and had great success in meeting the design challenge.