Calorimeter?

[Songbird8]

Hi, My name's Abbey! I'm testing the energy in dog food by using a homemade calorimeter. My hypothesis is the dog food with the highest amount of calories per serving will have the highest amount of energy.

So I was talking to my mom about my project, and we weren't really sure how the Calorimeter works? Like, is it supposed to tell how much energy is stored in the food? I understand that I have to weigh each piece of food on a gram scale before and after I burn it, but is the difference in calories how much energy is in each piece of food?

Please help!

[deleted-71709]

I'm glad to provide you some information Abbey. I like that name. It's my daughter's name too.

The simple answer to your question is "yes". But let me explain.

What a calorimeter does if measure the energy in food that is released by combustion - that is burning. Burning food is exactly what your body does to convert the food into useful energy for your body. It just does it very slowly through the digestive process.

The energy content of food is measured as so many calories per so much weight. That's why you need to weigh your food samples before and after you burn it. If you look on any packaged food that has nutrition information on it, it will always tell you how many calories there are per serving, and it will tell you how much each serving weighs.

You stated your hypothesis is "the dog food with the highest amount of calories per serving will have the highest amount of energy." Your calorimeter work will tell you how many calories there are per serving. I haven't looked at a dog food bag lately. I don't know if they tell you how many calories are supposed to be in every serving. If they do, then you can compare your calorimeter results with the data published by the dog food manufacturer.

If they don't tell you, then you will be able to determine how many calories - that is energy - there are per serving with your calorimeter data. I'm just not sure what you mean when you say the "highest amount of energy". Calories is a direct measure of energy.

If you want to figure out which dog food is "best" for your dog, that is a different question. The question of nutrition, whether is be for a dog or a human, is very complex and requires lots of different studies to find an answer. Knowing how many calories are consumed in a serving is an important part of this set of studies. So you're starting at a good point.

I think you just need to review your hypothesis and revise it. You might want to change it to something like, "Puppy food has more calories per serving than food formulated for adult dogs." Then you could determine the calories per serving with your calorimeter of these different kinds of dog foods and test your hypothesis.

Good luck, and have fun!

[Songbird8]

Oh thank you! That's wonderful information!

And I'm actually not trying to compare adults to puppies, persay. I know I want to test the small adult food type. should I test foods with different moistures and then revise my hypothesis from there?

[deleted-71709]

I'm not exactly sure I understand your hypothesis.

The hypothesis you wrote in your original post was "My hypothesis is the dog food with the highest amount of calories per serving will have the highest amount of energy."

As I explained, calories is the way you measure energy. So by measuring calories you will measure "energy". So once you find the food with the highest calories, or energy, to what will you compare it?

The moisture level in food will change the calories per pound of the food, because moist food contains water, which adds weight, but has no calories. So moist food will most likely have the lowest calories per pound.

But you need to rethink your hypothesis and write it out so it is clear just exactly what you are trying to prove. The Science Buddies web site is a great place for information about science projects. I suggest you review the information on this link: https://www.sciencebuddies.org/science- ... tion.shtml. In particular, review the material on "Your Science Fair Project Question". It might help you re-formulate your hypothesis.

Good luck, and have fun.