Conduction

Aim: To oberseve conduction along a metal rod.

Equipment: 
A metal rod,
retord stand and clamp,
Bunsen burner,
petroleum jelly,
5-10 drawing pins,
and a stopwatch.

Method:
1. Set up and light a bunsen burner.
2. Smear a small amount of petroleum jelly onto the head of each drawing pin.
3. Attatch the drawing pins at even intervals along the length of the metal rod.
4. Clamp one end of the metal rod to a retort stand.
5. Position the retort stand so the unclamped end of the metal rod is in the Bunsen flame and start the stopwatch.
6. Record the time it takes for each pin to drop in the tabe below.

Results:

Pin Number	Time to Drop
1	8.63 seconds
2	43.68 seconds
3	60.89 seconds
4	130.03 seconds

Discussion:

The metal rod, being a solid, it's particles are always vibrating ever-so-slightly, not having enough energy to push off of eachother to turn into a liquid. The particles in the metal rod vibrate very slightly at first, put as the metal rod is heated by the Bunsen burner, the particles in the metal rod vibrate more, as they gain heat energy. The longer the metal is heated, the more the metal rod vibrates. As the metal rod vibrates more, the pins start to fall off.