Science students need exposure to activities that will help them to become familiar with phenomena exhibiting exponential decay. This paper describes an experiment that allows students to determine the rate of thermal energy loss by a hot object to its surroundings. It requires limited equipment, is safe, and gives reasonable results. Students record the decreasing temperature values displayed by a thermometer, which was initially heated by body contact. The procedure is easy to repeat, taking only 3 min. The students then convert temperature changes into thermal energy losses and plot graphs. Data analysis can be used to teach graphing and ratio interpretation. This experiment can be used by high school or first-year college students in situations where resources or space may be limited or where large student populations dictate a need for uncomplicated experimental procedures, particularly those that minimize the production of chemical waste.

中文翻译：

---

使用有限的资源探索指数衰减

理科学生需要进行各种活动，以帮助他们熟悉表现出指数衰减的现象。本文介绍了一个实验，通过该实验，学生可以确定由热物体到周围环境造成的热能损失率。它需要有限的设备，是安全的，并且给出合理的结果。学生记录温度计显示的温度降低值，该温度计最初是通过身体接触加热的。该过程很容易重复，仅需3分钟。然后，学生将温度变化转换为热能损失并绘制图表。数据分析可用于教授图形和比率解释。