Thermodynamics of Cheetos
Purpose: to analyze the caloric content of snack foods, by determining the calories of heat given off by a Cheeto, or other snack foods, as it burns.
Procedure:
The food sample (Cheeto) was placed on a food holder, and the initial combined mass of the food holder and the Cheeto was measured and recorded. Using a graduated cylinder, 50-100 milliliters (ml) of water was measured and added to an empty soda can that was cut in half and cleaned. The soda can was then suspended on a ring stand using a metal ring, and its height was adjusted so that it was about 2-3 centimeters (cm) above the food holder. A thermometer probe was then inserted into the can, and the initial temperature of the water was measured and recorded using the Logger Pro 3.4.6TM software. With the food sample centered under the can and the experimental design set up, the Cheeto was then lit on fire, allowing the water to be heated until the Cheeto stopped burning, and the final temperature of the water and final mass of the food holder and the Cheeto was measured and recorded. The bottom of the soda can was cleaned to remove any soot or residue, …show more content…
This information could be useful to make better food choices, as the different foods that we consume contains varying amounts of energy that our bodies and cells utilize and store as energy. A potential source of error is the fact that not all of the heat energy released from the Cheeto is absorbed by the water. Even with the best formed insulator (foil tent) some of the heat is lost to the surroundings, and this could influence the change in temperature reported, and thus make experimental number for the Calories of the Cheeto lower than the actual
Purpose: to analyze the caloric content of snack foods, by determining the calories of heat given off by a Cheeto, or other snack foods, as it burns.
Procedure:
The food sample (Cheeto) was placed on a food holder, and the initial combined mass of the food holder and the Cheeto was measured and recorded. Using a graduated cylinder, 50-100 milliliters (ml) of water was measured and added to an empty soda can that was cut in half and cleaned. The soda can was then suspended on a ring stand using a metal ring, and its height was adjusted so that it was about 2-3 centimeters (cm) above the food holder. A thermometer probe was then inserted into the can, and the initial temperature of the water was measured and recorded using the Logger Pro 3.4.6TM software. With the food sample centered under the can and the experimental design set up, the Cheeto was then lit on fire, allowing the water to be heated until the Cheeto stopped burning, and the final temperature of the water and final mass of the food holder and the Cheeto was measured and recorded. The bottom of the soda can was cleaned to remove any soot or residue, …show more content…
This information could be useful to make better food choices, as the different foods that we consume contains varying amounts of energy that our bodies and cells utilize and store as energy. A potential source of error is the fact that not all of the heat energy released from the Cheeto is absorbed by the water. Even with the best formed insulator (foil tent) some of the heat is lost to the surroundings, and this could influence the change in temperature reported, and thus make experimental number for the Calories of the Cheeto lower than the actual