Year 9 Independent Learning Challenge Part 1 Autumn Term

Name: _______________________ Teacher ________________

DATE DUE IN: _________________ Group _________________

Independent Learning Challenge

HEALTHY SNACKING

Skill Quality Max Mark

Collecting data 6
Processing data 6
Analysing data 6
Evaluating data 6
Conclusion 6
TOTAL 30

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Year 9 Independent Learning Challenge Part 1 Autumn Term

All living organisms need a source of energy. Food is our source of energy. It
is used like a fuel. When a fuel burns it releases heat energy. In our bodies
the oxygen helps to release the energy from the food.
Some foods contain more energy than others.
Ben, aged 15, wants to compare the energy provided by different snack foods.
He has asked you to find out the amount of energy in one type of snack food.

The task for you to do:

Find out the amount of energy in 1g of Wotsit by using the results of an

experiment that Ben has completed.

Ben used the following method:

Instructions

1. Measure the mass of a Wotsit and record it.

2. Use the measuring cylinder to measure 20cm3 of water

into a boiling tube.

3. Clamp the boiling tube to the clampstand as shown in the

diagram.

4. Carefully push the Wotsit on to the end of a mounted needle.

5. Use a thermometer to measure the temperature of the Water.

Record the temperature.

6. Light the Bunsen burner flame and hold the Wotsit in the flame
until it catches light.

7. Immediately, hold the Wotsit under the boiling tube.

8. Hold the Wotsit in place until it has burnt completely. If the flame
goes out, but the food is not completely burnt, quickly light it again
using the Bunsen burner and replace the Wotsit beneath the tube.

9. When the Wotsit has burnt away completely, gently stir the water
with the thermometer.

10. Measure the temperature of the water and record it. Calculate the
rise in temperature of the water. Record it.

11. Note down any changes on the outside of the boiling tube and
the appearance of the burnt Wotsit.
12. Repeat the experiment four more times using a clean boiling tube and a new Wotsit each time.
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 Year 9 Independent Learning Challenge Part 1 Autumn Term

Collecting your results

1. The data the student collected is in the results table. Calculate the
temperature rise for each experiment.

Mass of Temperature of the Temperature of Temperature rise

Wotsit in g water at the start the water at the in oC
in oC end
in oC
0.4 15 26
0.43 17 26
0.38 17 35
0.35 14 27
0.45 14 30

2. Write down what you think happened to the Wotsit as it burnt.

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3. Describe what you think happened to the boiling tube.

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4. All experiments have risks. Explain what risks there are with this
experiment and what safety precautions you might take.
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Year 9 Independent Learning Challenge Part 1 Autumn Term

Processing your results

5. Make sure you have calculated the rise in temperature for each Wotsit.
Then, calculate the amount of energy released from 1g of each Wotsit.

To calculate the energy released, in joules, you can use this formula

Energy released from 1g of Wotsit = temperature rise in oC x 84

mass of Wotsit used

Carry out the calculations and record your results in the spaces below.

Wotsit A

Wotsit B

Wotsit C

Wotsit D

Wotsit E

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Year 9 Independent Learning Challenge Part 1 Autumn Term

6. Write your answers for the energy in 1g of each Wotsit in the table below.

Change your results to kJ per g. (You need to divide the energy in J by 1000.)

Calculate the average amount of energy in 1g of Wotsit and record your result
in the table.

Now calculate the average amount of energy in 100g of Wotsit by multiplying

your answer by 100 and record your answer in the table.

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Year 9 Independent Learning Challenge Part 1 Autumn Term

Analysing your results

Ben is interested in finding out which snack food would be better for him to eat. He compares the
information on the food labels of six different snack foods. The information on this page is from
his notebook.

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Year 9 Independent Learning Challenge Part 1 Autumn Term

7. Plot a graph to compare the energy values of the different snack foods.
Choose suitable scales, label the axes and give a title.

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Year 9 Independent Learning Challenge Part 1 Autumn Term

8. Which snack food has the highest amount of energy per 100g?

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9. Describe any patterns in Ben’s data. Look at the energy and the food groups
in each snack food.

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10. Compare your result of the energy in 100g of Wotsit with the data from
Ben’s notebook. Suggest reasons for the difference.

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11. Make an evaluation of the experimental data. Use these questions to help.
How accurate do you think the students results are?
List the sources of error in the method of finding the energy in a food
sample. How could you get better results?

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Year 9 Independent Learning Challenge Part 1 Autumn Term

Conclusion

12. Ben knows he should be eating healthily. But he also needs energy. Which
snack food should he choose for an occasional treat? Explain why.
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End of Learning Challenge