Based on advice from Kerry Mcfarland, we ran an experiment to see if we got better results in an enclosed environment. The beakers with hydrogels were placed inside boxes.

 

Hypothesis: If you put the hydrogels into a controlled environment, then the temperature in the box will be cooler than the air outside the box, because the cool air from the hydrogels is being contained.

 

Independent Variable:  size of hydrogels

Dependent Variable: temperature above hydrogels

 

 

We conclude that there was no significant increase in cooling. If we put the test inside boxes, we should find a way to increase air circulation.