Heat and Colour Experiment

Year 5 Science — Scientific Inquiry

Name:

Date:

Group Members:

🔤 Part 1: Key Vocabulary Matching

Draw a line to match each vocabulary word to its correct definition.

Heat energy

Absorption

Reflection

Hypothesis

Radiation

Variable

A prediction that can be tested through an investigation.

The transfer of heat through empty space by electromagnetic waves.

When light or heat bounces off an object instead of being absorbed.

Energy that causes a change in temperature.

A factor that can change in an investigation.

The process of taking in heat or light energy.

🔬 Part 2: Experiment Setup & Prediction

About the Experiment: In this investigation, two thermometers are covered — one with black tape and one with white tape. Both are placed at the same distance from a heat lamp. The temperature of each thermometer is recorded every 2 minutes for 10 minutes.

Inquiry Question: How does the colour of tape on a thermometer affect the rate of temperature rise under a heat lamp?

1. Write your hypothesis. Which thermometer do you predict will heat up faster — black or white tape? Why?

I predict that the thermometer with _________ tape will heat up faster because:

2. Identify the variable being changed in this experiment.

3. What must stay the same to make this a fair test? Tick all that apply.

Distance of each thermometer from the heat lamp

The colour of tape used on each thermometer

The type of thermometer used

The amount of time the lamp is on

The starting temperature of each thermometer

📊 Part 3: Data Recording & Graph

Instructions: Record the temperature (°C) of each thermometer at the start and every 2 minutes. Write your readings in the table below.

Data Table — Temperature Over Time

Note: Your teacher will provide a printed data table, or use the space above to draw your own with columns: Time (min) | Black Tape Temp (°C) | White Tape Temp (°C)

Graph — Temperature vs. Time

Use the grid below to plot a line graph showing the temperature of each thermometer over time. Use a different colour for each line. Remember to add a title and label your axes.

X-axis: Time (minutes) Y-axis: Temperature (°C)

Graph Title: _____________________________________________

Key: Black tape = _______ White tape = _______