Boiling water is placed in a beaker and left on the table.

1. What happens to the beaker of boiling water if left alone on the table? (careful some may talk about the water evaporating which is negligible over the first half hour of the experiment)

2. Explain why the temperature of the water changes in this way. (delve deeply)

3. How could you reduce the problem of heat loss from the beaker? Consider all the possibilities. (delve deeply)

4. How do your suggestions in question 3 compare to the operation of a thermos flask? Have you left anything out in your solutions?