Class Inquiry Project

1. Ask a question
Why did Mrs. Rehwaldt need to put more antifreeze in her car?

2. Do research
Here is a compilation of your class research:

Most automobile engines require water to control their temperatures from getting too hot as they run.

An antifreeze is an additive which lowers the freezing point of a water-based liquid. An antifreeze mixture is used to achieve freezing-point depression for cold environments and also achieves boiling-point elevation ("anti-boil") to allow higher coolant temperature

So if water was put into a hot engine it simply boiled off and had to be replenished with constant stops to re-supply.

you know how ice cream keeps you cool on a hot day well antifreeze keeps your cat cool on a hot day

When the mercury begins to rise outside, it’s common for car engines to get overly toasty too. Thankfully, there are plenty of things you can do to make sure a temporary jump in temperature doesn’t lead to long-lasting trouble. To help you know what to do if your car overheats, here are 5 easy steps.

1. First, always carry an extra bottle of coolant (also called antifreeze) in your car, as well as a jug of water. Engines typically overheat because the coolant’s low, so topping it up will usually solve the problem. Failing that, water will also temporarily do the trick. Plus, that water could be a lifesaver on long, sweltering summer drives. Just don’t drink it all.
2. When you see the temperature gauge creeping into the red or a notification light glowing, immediately turn off your air conditioner (since the AC puts a lot of strain on your engine). Roll the windows down to cool off the way nature intended.
3. If the problem persists, crank your heater up to full blast. It could make the next few miles a pretty brutal experience, but the transfer of heat away from the engine might just save its life.
4. Should the preceding steps fail, pull over as soon as you can. Turn off the engine. If you can pop the hood from the driver’s seat, do so — but don’t risk opening it by hand until the engine has cooled, especially if you see steam wafting off the engine. It typically takes a solid 30 minutes for an engine to cool down enough for it to be safe to handle. If you’d rather let a professional handle the problem, it’s time to call for a tow truck.
5. Once the engine has cooled, check the coolant tank. It’s usually a translucent plastic tank near the radiator. If the coolant tank is empty, you may have sprung a leak. Take a quick look under the car. If you notice a drip or puddle, chances are the coolant tank is leaking.

You put anti freeze in your car for 2 reasons. 1 Reason is to keep your engine operating temperature at the specifide level and keep the engine from over heating. The other Reason is to protect your engine block from craking in extreme cold. When liquid freezes it expands and could potentialy crack a weak engine block. Anti freeze does not become solid till around -50F. Also, anti freezes containadditives which reduce corrosion within the engine and the rest of the cooling system.

You use antifreeze because it keeps your car from overheating and freezing. It also keeps cars from having problems in the winter. If you put water in your engine it would freeze or boil.

Most automobile engines require water to control their temperatures from getting too hot as they run. Way back when, this was difficult because a car’s engine runs at a temperature that is greater than the boiling point of water. So if water was put into a hot engine it simply boiled off and had to be replenished with constant stops to re-supply. The invention of the radiator partially cured this problem as the water was kept under pressure which raised its boiling point and kept it from boiling away. But cars continued to have difficulties with over heating even with the radiator.

-- Pure water turns into ice at temperature 0C (32F). What happens if you dissolve different chemical compounds in the water? Will salt or sugar prevent water from freezing or slow down the process? You'll find  it out in this 4th grade project. It's simple and can be done in 24 hours.

When you have collected your boiling point data repeat the process varying the concentrations of antifreeze but now freeze them instead of boiling them. Start with pure water. Set your freezer to 310 and put thermometer in water. Check periodically, record temperature when ice first starts to form, do not let water freeze completely. Then put in your 5ml concentrations and put back in freezer. If solutions do not freeze set your freezer at a colder temperature and record temperature when ice first appears. Continue this process through your 25ml solutions.


3. Please comment on this post with your HYPOTHESIS!
What will happen when we add antifreeze to water and try to freeze it?