Pham, David

A Nutty Way To Measure Calories

Background Information
1. Why do we eat?
We eat so that we can obtain energy like glucose to grow, develop,function, and
provide fuel for cellular respiration.
2. What unit do we use to measure the amount of energy food gives us?
We use calories to measure the amount of energy that food gives us.
3. What is the definition of this unit?
One calorie is the approximate amount of energy needed to raise the
temperature
of 1 gram of water by 1 degree Celsius.
Purpose
The purpose of the lab is to compare the amount of energy in different foods and to
compare the way we burn foods in the literal sense to how we burn foods in our bodies
through metabolism.
Hypothesis
In order from most energy to least, walnuts, peanuts, cheetos, and marshmallows give
off energy when burned.
1.

If we burn the walnut, then it will greatly increase the temperature of the water because
it contains the largest amount of calories.

2.

If we burn a peanut, then it will barely increase the temperature of the water because it
contains the least amount of calories.

Procedure
Set up your calorimeter and add about 50mL to 100mL water. Record the mass of the
food item and the temperature of the water before you burn or heat the food item. Light the food
away from the can. Remember, you
want to test the calorie of the food
item, not the match. Insert the lit item
under your can and let it burn until it is
completely charred. Record the
temperature of the water and repeat
for all food items.

Data

Food

Mass(g)

Temp.
Before (C)

Temp. After
(C)

Change in
Temp. (C)

Change in
Temp./gram

Marshmallow

0.8g

22c

27c

5c

6.25c

Cheeto

0.7g

22c

40c

18c

25.7c

Peanut

0.5g

22c

41c

19c

38c

Walnut

0.5g

22c

47c

25c

50c

Analysis and Conclusion

1. How did the definition of the calorie help us figure out what procedure we would use to
determine how much energy the foods had?
The definition of calorie is the energy required to raise one gram of water by 1 C.
By using this definition, we burned out the food item and recorded how much the
temperature of the water rose. We finally divided the change in temp by the mass
to find the amount of calories.
2. Did the food items contain energy? How do you know?
All of the food items contained energy. When they were burned, they all rose the
temperature of the water.
3. Where did the matter that makes up the peanut (and most foods) come from originally?
Most matter that makes up the peanut originally is carbon dioxide and water. The
plant uses these reactants to perform photosynthesis to grow and develop.
4. The energy is from the sun. Chlorophyll captures this energy and undergoes a process
called photosynthesis to convert carbon dioxide, sunlight,and water into glucose
and oxygen.
5.
Lab

Similarities

Cellular Respiration

Energy is released at the

same time

Energy is released

Energy is slowly released

No mitochondria

Oxygen is present and

CO2 is released

Mitochondria is involved

Requires activation energy