Non-Renewable+Resources+Science+Project

Problem Statement Does a renewable fuel produce the same level of energy as an equivalent amount of nonrenewable fuel? Background Research Renewable energy is energy that is extracted from sources that are naturally replenished; For example the wind, water, and Sun. Nonrenewable energy comes from fossil fuels. Fossil fuels are made from the bodies of animals and plants that lived millions of years ago and were exposed to heat and pressure in the Earth's crust for millions of years. Coal is a perfect example of a fossil fuel. It is a limited resource, and extracting energy from coal creates by-products that are believed to have harmful effects on the environment and contribute to climate change.

Agro-fuel is a type of biofuel and is also a form of renewable energy. Agro-fuel is produced from specific crops. There are two ways to grow agro-fuels. The first is to grow crops that are high in sugar, such as sugarcane, or that are high in starch, such as corn. Then use fermentation to produce ethanol. Engines can be modified to use ethanol fuel instead of gasoline. The second strategy is to grow crops that have high oil content, such as soybeans. When heated, the consistency of the oil changes into a form that can be used directly in diesel engines. There are disadvantages, however, to using agro-fuels. Agro-fuels compete for land and resources with other crops that are grown solely for food. Clearing land for growing agro-fuels threatens biodiversity and drains the local water supply. Instead of growing crops specifically for agro-fuels, it might be a better option to convert waste vegetable oil into fuel.

In comparison, both non-renewable resources and renewable resources have negative effects on the environment and people. Argo-fuels threaten biodiversity, drain the local water supply, and most of the times it is expensive. While, non-renewable resources hurt the environment, produce a lot of pollution, and greenhouse gases. Humans prefer to use non-renewable resources because it is cheaper than using Argo-fuels( With these rapid price increases on gas we won’t be saying this for long).

**Hypothesis ** If the energy in vegetable oil ( renewable) is equivalent to the same amount of energy in motor oil(non-renewable) then they both should produce an equal amount of energy. **Materials ** Paperclips( The paperclips must be metal and not coated with plastic.) Cotton cordage 1/2-inch (in.) diameter, 1-foot (ft.) length Ruler Scissors Soda can, 12-ounce (oz.), cleaned and metal tab removed Liquid measuring cup, metric <span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16px;">Styrofoam cup <span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16px;">Immersion alcohol thermometer <span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16px;">Ring stand with 3-inch ring <span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16px;">Pipet, dropper, flint glass (1 package of 12) <span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16px;">Motor oil, #20 or #30 <span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16px;">Vegetable oil <span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16px;">Optional: Aluminum foil <span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16px;">Fireplace lighter <span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16px;">Baking soda <span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16px;">Stopwatch <span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16px;">Paper towels, moistened <span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16px;">Lab notebook <span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16px;">Graph paper


 * <span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16px;"> Procedures **
 * 1) <span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16px;">Unfold a paperclip to make a holder. It should look like a letter "Z".
 * 2) <span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16px;">Measure and cut a 1 1/2-in. piece of cotton cordage. Poke one end of the paperclip, lengthwise, through the cotton.
 * 3) <span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16px;">Measure 100 milliliters (mL) of water in the liquid measuring cup and pour it into the empty and clean soda can.
 * 4) <span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16px;">Place the open end of the Styrofoam cup over the top of the soda can. Poke a hole the same diameter as the thermometer in the top of the cup over the opening in the soda can. Insert the thermometer through the Styrofoam cup and into the soda can. The thermometer should sit in the water, but should not touch the sides of the can. Most lab thermometers come with a plastic fitting that slides over the body of the thermometer. (tip for class-mates trying to repeat project)Use this plastic fitting to keep the thermometer from sliding and touching the side of the can.
 * 5) <span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16px;"> Set the ring stand in a well-ventilated area and on a non-flammable surface. There may be small flames and smoke produced during the following steps. Make sure that there are no flammable or combustible items nearby. Slide the smallest ring onto the stand's post; do not tighten it yet.
 * 6) <span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16px;">Suck some vegetable oil into the dropper. Squeeze 35 drops onto the cotton cording on the paperclip. Take your time and make sure that all of the oil soaks into the cotton.
 * 7) <span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16px;">Place the moistened cotton and paperclip on the base of the ring stand, directly under the ring. The cotton should be 2 in. from the plane of the ring and positioned so it is vertical to the ring stand base.
 * 8) <span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16px;">Place the soda can and thermometer contraption so it is resting on top of the ring. If the soda can falls through the ring, wrap some aluminum foil around the ring to reduce its diameter. Make sure that the can sits securely on the ring.
 * 9) <span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16px;">Take a thermometer reading of the initial temperature of the water. Note this reading in your lab notebook in a data table, like the one shown below.
 * 10) <span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16px;">Now light the cotton using the fireplace lighter. Caution: Have an adult help you perform this step. Make sure to have an open box of baking soda nearby. Baking soda can extinguish grease fires safely if you completely cover the grease fire with the baking soda.
 * 11) <span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16px;">Start the stopwatch when the cotton lights. Caution: Keep away from the smoke, as it can have an unpleasant and irritating odor.
 * 12) <span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16px;">Stop the stopwatch when the flame goes out. Read the temperature on the thermometer. Watch it for a few minutes to make sure that it doesn't change. Once the temperature stops changing, record the value in your lab notebook.
 * 13) <span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16px;">Gently blow out the glowing, hot cotton. Use some moistened paper towels to clean up the residual cotton from the paperclip. Carefully remove the thermometer from the can. Pour the water from the can into the sink. Rinse off the outside of the can. Be careful, because the soot on the outside of the stand can stain your hands and clothes. Clean everything with the paper towels. Open nearby windows to drive any remaining smoke out of the room.
 * 14) <span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16px;">Repeat step 2 and steps 6–13, using vegetable oil, two additional times. Refill the can each time with fresh, cool water. The water should be approximately the same starting temperature each time.
 * 15) <span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16px;">Repeat step 2 and steps 6–13, using motor oil, three times. Refill the can each time with fresh, cool water. The water should be approximately the same starting temperature each time.
 * 16) <span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16px;">Analyze your data. Calculate the percent change between the initial water temperature and the final water temperature.

|| <span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Percent change =
 * __<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">(final water temperature - initial water temperature) __<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"> initial water temperature  || <span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">× 100 ||

<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16px;">This equation shows how to calculate the percent change between the initial temperature and the final temperature.