Here are 4 heat experiments which work on demonstrating 4 different principle. These are Conduction, contraction, convection, and diffusion.
Conduction;
To explain Conduction we used a flat brass rod with pins stuck of the bottom with petroleum jelly. These were placed further and further from the tip. Then using a Bunsen burner we heated up the plate and watched as the heat travelled down the plate, melting the petroleum jelly and forcing the pins to drop. At the end only 2 remained at the nearest side to the handle ( further from the flame). We also observed that because of the heat the plate tried to return to it’s original rolled up state. But when cooled down it returned to the straight flat form that we were used to.
Contraction
To explain contraction we used an aluminium can, couple ML of water inside the can, a box / container of cold water and tongs. Heated up an aluminium can with water inside on a heating plate. Once the water inside has boiled we took the can and flipped it upside down and plunged it into cold water. Because the gases inside the can were trapped in because of the layer of water at the opening it pulled in the sides and imploded the can.
convection.
To explain convection we used and 250ml beaker, 150ml of water, a couple grains potassium permanganate, and a heating plate. We put the couple grains of potassium permanganate inside of the beaker which was filled with 150ml of water. We placed it in one corner. We placed that corner of the heating plate. We watched the as the potassium pomegranate floated upwards and then down. The potassium permanganate was used as a dye to show the convention current which is when the warmer water which is less dense because the particles move away from each other rises to the top and the cold water which is more dense sinks. This creates a current.
Diffusion.
To explain diffusion we used a petri dish filled with cold water, and a second petri dish filled with hot water, and a couple of potassium permanganate crystals. First we filled the petri dishes with water, one with cold, the other with hot. Then we placed a couple of potassium permanganate crystals. We timed how long it took the the particles to be spread out across the petri dish. The petri dish with the warm water took a shorter amount of time to spread out than the cold water.
Out of these my favourite one was the contraction experiment. It the most interesting visually and scientifically.For the contraction experiment the aim was to make the aluminium cans implode.The hypothesis was that once the water was boiling and we dipped it into the cold water upside down the can was implode with it’s sides being pulled in.The equipment consisted of: a heating plate, Aluminium cans with water in them, heat-proof mat, and a tub of cold water.
The method started of with the aluminium can being placed on the heating plate after the heat had been turned up to maximum. After the water inside boiled violently we swiftly flipped the can into the tub of cold water using a pair of pliers, then waited to the can to implode. The conclusion is that these 4 experiments show the 4 main principles of heat.