Type of Wood v Burning Time (Randy Daniels)

Research Question and Hypothesis

Does the amount of time it takes a piece of wood to burn depend on the type of wood?

Standards

MS-PS1-4. Develop a model that predicts and describes changes in particle motion, temperature, and state of a pure substance when thermal energy is added or removed. [Clarification Statement: Emphasis is on qualitative molecular-level models of solids, liquids, and gases to show that adding or removing thermal energy increases or decreases kinetic energy of the particles until a change of state occurs. Examples of models could include drawing and diagrams. Examples of particles could include molecules or inert atoms. Examples of pure substances could include water, carbon dioxide, and helium.]

Experimental Design

In this experiment, I will place five different types of wood (basswood, particle board, pine, plywood, and redwood), evenly spaced, in my fireplace. Each piece of wood will be of equal size. I will set fire to these five different types of wood simultaneously. Using a timer, I will observe and record how long it takes for each piece of wood to be completely consumed by the flames.

Independent variable

The independent variable in time, which I will measure with the use of a stopwatch.

Dependent variables

The dependent variable will be the rate of consumption by the flames.

Series

What series will you be testing?

The consumption rate of wood as function of time using various types of wood.

Constants and Controls

The constants in the my study will be the environment (same fireplace, with the wood being burned at the same time under the same environmental conditions. Also, the size of each piece of wood is the same. Furthermore, each piece of wood must be lit at the same time.

Materials

Wood (5 different types) - basswood, particle board, pine, plywood, redwood

Lighter

Stopwatch

Starter log

Metal grating

Procedures

1. Procure different types of wood. All pieces of wood must be the exact same size and dimensions.

2. Find a fireplace or a small fire pit.

3. Place the pieces of wood on top of a metal grate with holes. Space each of the pieces of wood evenly apart.

4. Light a fire in the fireplace. It is important that there is a fire going prior to you placing the metal grate into the flame. This is to increase the likelihood that each piece of wood will catch on fire at roughly (if not exactly) the same time. You might have to use a starter log or some other combustible to start your fire prior to placing your wood into the flames. The five pieces of wood for the experiment are NOT to be used as the fire's sole source of fuel.

5. Once the starter log is fully engulfed in flames, place the metal grate with the different wood samples over the log (into the flames).

6. Observe the wood samples. Once they have all caught fire (which should happen to all pieces of wood within seconds of each other), start the stopwatch.

7. Take note of how long it takes for each piece of wood to fall apart and cease to burn.

8. Transfer your data to a graph.

Sample data and graphs

Analysis & Conclusions

Based on my study, I concluded that the plywood burned and fell apart much faster than the other pieces of wood on the grate. However, even though the plywood fell apart (16 min, 30 sec) and became ash first (as I stated in the video), the pine continued to disintegrate to even greater degree than the plywood once it fell apart (17 min, 24 sec), despite the fact that it fell apart after the plywood. The basswood, though it did not burn the fastest, did tend to diminish in overall size as it burned. The particle board fell apart at approximately 37 min. The piece of redwood, however, held its integrity throughout the length of the trial (just over 45 minutes) and showed little sign of degradation due to the flames.

Photos & Movies

References

Include links to all relevant references.