Unit: WeatherEarth Science, Wilson

Energy Conduction Lab

Although all of the insolation (incoming solar radiation) reaching the earth passes through the atmosphere, very little of it is directly absorbed into the atmosphere. It is estimated that15% is absorbed into the atmosphere. Most of it is absorbed by the earth and transferred to the atmosphere by the process of conduction. The estimate of this total is 50% of the insolation. In this lab, you will investigate the process of energy/heat conduction and see how it works.

Materials:

2 Calorimeters, 2 thermometers, 1 heat transfer bar (U-shaped), boiling water, room temperature water, 400ml. Beaker

Procedure:

  1. Place the metal cups inside of the Styrofoam sleeves of the calorimeter apparatus.
  2. Place each end of the heat transfer bar through two separate Styrofoam discs.
  3. Place one thermometer through the remaining opening of the Styrofoam discs.
  4. Put 150ml. of boiling water in one of the metal cups of the calorimeter apparatus (Caution: boiling water). Place 150ml of room temperature water in the other cup.
  5. Place the disc/thermometer/heat transfer bar setup into each cup. Seal the discs into the Styrofoam sleeves.
  6. Allow the temperatures to stabilize on the thermometers and make your first recording on the data table.
  7. Take readings every minute for the next twenty minutes.
  8. Clean up and put away materials.

Note:Do not touch the transfer bar or take the Styrofoam discs off of the calorimeters during the twenty-minute recording period.

Questions:

Answer these questions in complete sentences.

  1. From what calorimeter did the heat energy flow? How do you know?
  1. By what process of energy transfer did the heat move from one calorimeter to the other?
  1. Was the heat loss equal to the heat gain?
  1. If not, what happened to the heat?
  1. Describe what is happening in the process of conduction.
  1. How is conduction different than radiation?
  1. How is conduction different than convection?
  1. How is the Earth’s atmosphere heated by conduction?

Recording /

Boiling Water Cup

/

Room Temperature Cup

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Create a graph showing you lab group’s results. See the teacher example for setup.