heat retention of coffee mugs

[agalla]

I am doing a Jr High science project...on the heat retention of differen types of coffee cups.....any wat to beef up this experiment ..is this physics? Chemistry? What causes heat retention?? any websites to do more research? any advice is greatly appreciated

[Horza2002]

It is proably closer to physics than chemsitry...although the ability of each material to faciliate heat transfer will depend on their chemical strucutre. Firstly though, as this seems very much like homework help, what do you tink causes heat retention?

[swansont]

Depending on the details of your project, it sounds like it's pretty much within the bounds of thermodynamics (i.e. physics). What specifically are you trying to show?

[agalla]

I am thinking that heat retention is how long the coffee stays hot in the coffeee cups. I am testing paper, plastic, styrofoam, ceramic, and stainless coffee cups to see which retains heat the longest. I took the temp every 10 minutes of the hot coffee in each cup until reached room temp. Just wanting to know how this all relates to science to beef up my project report. ...intermoleclar forces?? Thermodynamics?? Physics?? LOL!! My experiment is going well..I just want to have an awsome report to go with it any cool science websites that relate to heat retention??

[swansont]

Try googling on simple heat transfer experiments and look at the discussion.

[agalla]

Try googling on simple heat transfer experiments and look at the discussion.

Thanks!!! Will do!