Driving to the race:

You fill up your gas tank in your car with octane. As your car burns gas, to get you to the starting line of the Boston Marathon, the chemical bonds that hold together the octane molecules are broken. The potential energy stored in the bonds of the octane is converted into mechanical energy by moving the pistons in the engine of the car. HEAT is also released. By the time you get to the start line, what would the hood of your car feel like? The release of heat from your car can be explained by the Law of Conservation of _________________

The starting line:

Races always start early in the morning. You are super cold and want to warm up before the start gun goes off, so you grab a hot cup of coffee. Define these words: Thermal Energy: The total __________________________ of all the particles in a system. Increases with _______________________ and with _____________________________________. Temperature: a measure of the ______________________________________________. Heat: a _____________________ of _______________________. If you stuck a thermometer into the coffee to find out the temperature what are you really measuring? a) The amount of movement (kinetic energy) of the coffee molecules b) The heat c) The pressure and potential energy. Explain why just holding the cup of coffee can warm you up:

Mile 3:
This is usually where the first water station is located. Most race volunteers will hand you a small cup of water that they poured from a large water jug. What has more thermal energy- the large water jug or the little cup?

Mile 7:
You are starting to get hungry now. You have been running for an hour. You need to replenish your energy supply in your body by eating some calories so that your body can continue to do work. How many calories have you burned, if you weigh approx. 150 lb? How many Joules of energy have you used? From the ingredients supplied, what would you choose to eat and why?

Mile 13:
Congratulations! You are halfway there! Your muscles have been working hard, contracting and relaxing. It has been almost 2 hours since you began the race. You are sweaty and you can even feel that salt has accumulated on your face. Its a good thing you started taking your electrolyte solution! Electrolyte: A substance that breaks apart into _______________ when in solution. It can conduct _________________. The ions in an electrolyte not only conduct electricity, but they also are water LOVERS. They take water with them wherever they go. Why is this important to keep you hydrated and to keep you from cramping?

Mile 20:
Ouch! Muscles are starting to burn. Your legs feel heavy and are kind of achy. Your brain is kind of foggy, and you remember your awesome Chemistry teacher mentioning something about acid. Explain what is going on.

Mile 26.2, The Finish Line:

You did it! All those months of training! What an accomplishment! GREAT JOB!!! In the midst of celebrating, you really need to go ice those muscles. You grab a coldpack, break it so that it starts getting cold, and you press it to your hamstring (its been hurting since mile 20). What type of reaction is a coldpack? a. Exothermic:

b. Endothermic:

Speaking of endothermic and exothermic, how would you classify these reactions? Baking bread: Melting ice: Digesting food: Photosynthesis:

Burning a candle: