A Story
You now have a model incubator, so you take it to the doctor. She
is uneasy. Besides being too small, she feels that there is something else
very wrong with it. What else could be wrong with your model? After thinking
about it, the doctor exclaims "One problem is that there is no fresh
air. A baby would be asphyxiated in an incubator made this way. We need
to provide fresh air." You don't want too much air flow or the lamp
will not be able to heat the air fast enough. She has other questions: Could
the incubator have a "regular" thermometer so she can tell at
a glance what the temperature is inside? The incubator seems to loose quite
a bit of heat, insulation might make it more efficient. We don't know what
happens when a baby is put into the incubator, will it still work properly?
You may have your own questions about the new model incubator.
Student Defined Extensions:
Perhaps your work so far on this project has raised questions for additional
experiments. If you have a question of your own you want to study, work
on it.
Design Guide
to developing an extension. Framing the question, designing the research, and reporting
the results of the study.
Ready-made Extensions:
If you need ideas, you might do one of the following.
Extension #1 Collect
Data Automatically.
Set up a computer with a lab interface that can record the temperature automatically.
Extension #2 Add a Bulb Thermometer.
When your thermometer has been installed, compare its reading with the reading
of the thermistor.
Extension #3Calibrate the thermostat
A semicircle of marks on the incubator box showing heat settings would make
the incubator easier to use.
Extension #4Add a baby to your
model.
So far, we have been measuring the temperature of the air in an empty incubator.
But what will happen with a baby?
Extension #5Measure the Heat Flow.
Measure the rate the lamp adds heat to the incubator, and also determine
its heat loss rate.
Minimize heat loss by adding insulation to the incubator.
Extension #6Improve the Ventilation
Cut a small hole in the incubator and mount the fan over this hole so it
blows air into the incubator. Experiment with air circulation.
Analysis:
Suggestions
for analysis of data necessary to answer the questions posed at
the start of the unit. Here you can study graphs of data the authors got,
and get hints for interpreting your oun.
Report:
Reporting Guide for
collecting, synthesizing, and reporting the work done on the "extension"
you choose.
