Question Video: Identifying the Trend between the Energy Contained in a Food Source and the Result of a Calorimetry Experiment Biology • First Year of Secondary School

Video Transcript

The diagram provided shows a simple setup of a calorimeter, which can be used to estimate the amount of energy in different foods. Which of the following correctly describes the trend between the energy contained in a food source and the expected result? (A) The more energy a food sample contains, the more the temperature of the water increases. (B) The less energy a food sample contains, the more the temperature of the water increases. (C) There is no correlation between the energy a food sample contains and the temperature change of the water, as heat energy cannot be transferred through the air to the container.

The food we eat contains energy stored in chemical bonds. When we eat and digest food, we transfer this energy to our cells. Scientists, like nutritionists, often find it useful to know how much energy is stored in a certain amount of food. This can be determined using a calorimeter, as shown in the diagram. So how does this device work?

Well, burning the food breaks the chemical bonds within the molecules, much like what happens during digestion. The energy released in this process is converted into heat energy. As the food burns below the calorimeter, it heats up the water. By measuring the change in the temperature of the water, we can estimate how much energy is contained within the sample of food. The bigger the increase in the temperature of the water, the more energy is contained in the food source.

Looking back at our answer choices, the correct option must be (A). The trend between the energy contained in a food source and the result of the calorimetry experiment is that the more energy a food sample contains, the more the temperature of the water increases.