Station 1: What color absorbs heat best?
Predict which color will melt ice fastest.
Your prediction: ______
Procedure
· Mount lamp using the ring stand. Place bulb perpendicular to the table top so the bulb is approximately 20 cm from the table top.
· Cover table top where bulb is shining with cardboard and turn on light.
· Use small ice pieces of similar size. Place a piece of ice on one of the colored papers.
· Remove cardboard and place ice on paper under 100 watt bulb.
· Use a timer to determine how long it takes for ice to melt and record.
· Replace cardboard or quickly put second colored paper under lamp.
Color of Paper / Time to melt (seconds)Orange
Pink
Red
Green
Blue
Black
Brown
Conclusion
1. Which color melts ice fastest? Why do you think this is?
2. How might this information be used in designing you heat trapping device?
3. How might removing vegetation to build more highways change the way heat is absorbed in the earth system?
Station 2: Which material absorbs the most heat?
Predict which beaker will get the warmest.
Your prediction: ______
Procedure
· Mount lamp using the ring stand. Place bulb perpendicular to the table top so the bulb is approximately 30 cm from the table top.
· Place 3 beakers under the lamp so they receive equal energy.
· Take initial temperature of each material.
· Turn lamp on. Record temperature each minute for 6 minutes.
Time (minutes) / Dark Material(ºC) / Light Material
(ºC) / Air
(ºC)
Start
1
2
3
4
5
6
Conclusion
1. Which material warmed up the most?
2. Which material warmed up the fastest?
3. How might this information be used in designing you heat trapping device?
4. What might you expect to happen to the earth (in terms of heating up) as polar ice caps melt darkening areas that had previously been light?
Station 3 – Does clear or dark water absorb more heat?
Predict which cup will get the warmest.
Your prediction: ______
Procedure
· Mount lamp using the ring stand. Place bulb perpendicular to the table top so the bulb is approximately 30 cm from the tabletop .
· Place 2 cups under the lamp so they receive equal energy.
· Take initial temperature of each cup.
· Turn lamp on. Record temperature each minute for 6 minutes.
Time (minutes) / Dark Liquid(ºC) / Light Liquid
(ºC)
Start
1
2
3
4
5
6
Conclusion
1. Which liquid warmed up the most?
2. Which liquid warmed up the fastest?
3. How might this information be used in designing you heat trapping device?
4. Erosion can dump sediments into water and too many nutrients can cause algae blooms and other problems. These have an impact on water color and clarity. How might these conditions also impact water temperatures?
Station 4 – Do all dark materials absorb heat the same?
Predict which material (if any) will get the warmest.
Your prediction: ______
Procedure
· Mount lamp using the ring stand. Place bulb perpendicular to the table top with wire protectors leaning on ring clamp.
· Be sure bulb is parallel to tabletop centered over ring clamp.
· Place thermometers into each cup.
· Take initial temperature of each cup.
· Turn lamp on. Record temperature each minute for 6-8 minutes.
· Turn lamp off and record temperature each minute for 3-5 minutes.
· Remove thermometers from material
Time (minutes) / Coffee(ºC) / Black Beans
(ºC) / Dry Soil
(ºC) / Wet Soil
(ºC) / Rocks
(ºC)
Start
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
1
2
3
Conclusion
1. Which material warmed up the most?
2. Which material cooled the slowest?
3. How might this information be used in designing you heat trapping device?