The Effects of Carbon Dioxide on the Heat Retention of Water
This experiment aims to compare the heat retention of distilled water and carbonated water to see which water type will hold onto heat longer. In the environment, more carbon dioxide is being added to the atmosphere and ocean temperatures are constantly going up. In order to see if carbon dioxide could be causing this effect, it must be shown that carbon dioxide does or does not have an effect on heat retention.
Since the beginning of the industrial revolution, carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere have increased substantially, causing problems to occur. This greenhouse gas is carried by the water cycle from the atmosphere and into the oceans; the additional carbon dioxide kills off coral reefs and raises the oceans climate acidity. To conduct this experiment, 30 mL of both types of water were poured into test tubes and then sealed with a thermometer inside the tube. The test tubes were then submerged into a hot water bath until the temperature of the water reached 60 degrees celsius. Then the test tubes were placed into a rack and the time was recorded for how long it took for the water to decrease ten degrees celsius.
Once the results were collected, a two sample t-test was conducted to prove statistically that the average times for the seltzer water trials were longer than the average times for the distilled water trials. When the two sample t-test was conducted, a p-value of 0.000111 was found, meaning that the average times of the seltzer water trials were significantly longer than the distilled water trials. The hypothesis was accepted, which gives evidence that the carbon dioxide polluted into the environment can trap heat into the oceans for unnaturally long periods of time. In order to help save future ocean environments, less carbon dioxide needs to be polluted into the atmosphere.
Research Conducted By:
John Buiteweg
Cousino High School
Joel Maceroni
Sterling Heights High School
Warren Consolidated Schools