New
New
Year 8

Energy provided by food: practical

I can calculate the amount of energy provided by different foods by measuring a change in temperature.

New
New
Year 8

Energy provided by food: practical

I can calculate the amount of energy provided by different foods by measuring a change in temperature.

Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. Different foods provide different amounts of energy.
  2. The amount of energy provided by different foods can be investigated and compared by burning them.
  3. Burning foods can heat water and the temperature change of the water measured.
  4. The mean temperature change can be calculated from repeat measurements.
  5. Energy provided by the food (J) = mass of water (g) x rise in temperature (°C) x 4.2

Keywords

  • Temperature change - The difference in the starting and end temperature of a substance.

  • Mean - An average of several measurements, which is calculated by adding them up and dividing by the number of measurements.

  • Mass - The amount of matter in an object.

  • Variable - A variable is a factor that can be varied or measured in a science experiment.

Common misconception

Control variables make it a fair test.

Control variables need to be kept the same to make the investigation valid.

If there is time, you could repeat each food and find a mean. Students could also work in different groups and then share data to calculate a mean.
Teacher tip

Content guidance

  • Risk assessment required - equipment

Supervision

Adult supervision required

Licence

This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2024), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).

Lesson video

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6 Questions

Q1.
Which food groups provide us with energy?
Correct answer: Carbohydrates
Correct answer: Fats
Minerals
Proteins
Vitamins
Q2.
Which foods are high in fat?
apple
Correct answer: butter
Correct answer: cheese
Correct answer: oil
bread
Q3.
How much energy (kcal) is in 100g of this cereal?
An image in a quiz
Correct Answer: 385
Q4.
How much energy (kcal) is in a 30g portion of this cereal?
An image in a quiz
Correct Answer: 116
Q5.
The apparatus we use to heat things in the lab in called a burner.
Correct Answer: Bunsen, bunsen
Q6.
What pieces of information must be included on a food label by law?
Correct answer: Energy
Correct answer: Fat
Salt
Vitamins

6 Questions

Q1.
Who is correct?
Correct answer: Sam: A mean is an average calculated from repeated measurements.
Laura: A mean is where you take the best result and use this as your answer.
Izzy: A mean is the highest result that you get.
Jun: A mean is calculated from a single measurement.
Q2.
Which food provides the most energy?
An image in a quiz
An image in a quiz
Correct Answer: An image in a quiz
An image in a quiz
Q3.
The amount of energy provided by different foods can be investigated and compared by them.
Correct Answer: burning
Q4.
How is temperature change calculated?
by finding the mean
Correct answer: final temperature − initial temperature
initial temperature − final temperature
by repeating the experiment
Q5.
Which is the correct equation for calculating the amount of energy provided by food?
Correct answer: mass of water × temperature change × 4.2
mass of water × temperature change
mass of water × temperature change ÷ 4.2
Q6.
Calculate the energy provided by burning food that heated water with a mass of 10 g and caused a temperature change of 23 °C.
Correct Answer: 966, 966j, 966 j
Q2 image 1 UYSEG Q2 image 2 UYSEG Q2 image 3 UYSEG

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