A peanut will burn producing an impressive amount of flame for a long time. The flame can be used to boil away water and count the calories contained in the peanut. A great way to show students how calories are calculated for energy in our bodies.

http://www.exo.net/~pauld/activities/food/burnapeanut.html

• fresh peanuts
• 20 mL or larger test tubes (larger tubes are better)
• test tube holders (ring stand with test tube clamp)
• 10 mL of water (measure with a graduated cylinder)
• large paper clips
• aluminum plates
• sticky tape
• matches
• scale

See website for detailed instructions.

Paul Doherty, Scientific Explorations