Activities

Download
- Lesson Files
- Teacher Notes Appendix A PDF
- Teacher Notes Appendix B PDF
- Teacher Notes PDF
Alignment
- Standards Alignment
- Textbook Alignment
Subject Area
- Science: Chemistry: Gases, Liquids and Solids
- Science: Forensics: Data Analysis
- Maths: Algebra I: Data Analysis
- Maths: Middle Grades Math: Problem Solving
- Maths: PreAlgebra: Probability, Statistics and Data Analysis
- Maths: Statistics: Data Analysis
Author

Texas Instruments
Level

9-12
Activity Time

100 Minutes
Device
- TI-83 Plus Family
- TI-84 Plus
- TI-84 Plus Silver Edition
- TI-84 Plus C Silver Edition
- TI-84 Plus CE
Software

TI Connect™
TI Connect™ CE
Applications
- EasyData® for TI-83 Plus and TI-84 Plus
- Vernier EasyData™ for TI-84 Plus CE
Accessories

Sensor - Temperature
TI Connectivity Cable
Unit-to-Unit link cables
Other Materials
- Accelerant samples from 4 suspects and from crime scene
- 5 small test tubes
- Test tube rack
- 6 small rubber bands
- 6 pieces of filter paper cut into 2 - 2 cm squares
- Lint-free tissues or paper towels
- Goggles
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Forensics Case 11 - Ashes to Ashes: Using evaporation rate to identify an unknown liquid

Activity Overview

In this activity, students understand that evaporation rate is a characteristic property of a liquid. Based on this fact, they identify the solution and the likely accelerant in a case of arson. They compare the evaporation rates of the accelerants found with the suspects with those near the crime site.

Key Steps

Each graph that students make will show a decrease of temperature as each liquid evaporates. Then they will compare the temperature differences to identify the suspect who had traces of the matching accelerant.
The graphs of each unknown is compared to the known sample found at the crime scene. Which substance belonging to which suspect came closest?

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Lesson Files

Alignment

Subject Area

Author

Level

Activity Time

Device

Software

Applications

EasyData® for TI-83 Plus and TI-84 Plus

Vernier EasyData™ for TI-84 Plus CE

Accessories

Other Materials

Report an Issue

Forensics Case 11 - Ashes to Ashes: Using evaporation rate to identify an unknown liquid

Activity Overview

Key Steps

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