LAB #4 – Heating Earth’s Surface
copy the title
Sometimes, a plunge in a pool or lake on a hot summer day feels cool and refreshing. Why does the beach sand get so hot when the water remains cool? A few hours later, the water feels warmer than the land does.
Problem
What is the effect of radiant energy from a light bulb on the temperature of a tray filled with "soil/land" and a tray filled with "water/sea"?
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Copy the problem, make a hypothesis, use the writing prompts to guide you.
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Hypothesis
If we add radiant energy from a light bulb to trays filled with "land" and "sea"....
then the temperatures of the trays will ______________________,
and this is because _______________________________________.
(What will happen to the temperature of the soil and water when the light is turned on? What will happen to the soil and water after the light has been turned off? Will they cool down evenly? Will they heat up the exact same? Will they heat up differently? Will there be a change in temperature? Why do I think this?)
and this is because _______________________________________.
(What will happen to the temperature of the soil and water when the light is turned on? What will happen to the soil and water after the light has been turned off? Will they cool down evenly? Will they heat up the exact same? Will they heat up differently? Will there be a change in temperature? Why do I think this?)
Materials copy the materials
Soil
Water
Containers for soil and water
Overhead light
Thermometers
Water
Containers for soil and water
Overhead light
Thermometers
Stopwatch
Procedure
DO NOT COPY.. You don't DO this, I did it, watch the videos.
1. Add 300 ml of water to one of the boxes and 300 ml of soil to the other box.
2. Use a thermometer to find the temperature of the water and soil in each container. Record your data in the Results section.
3. Place the containers side by side underneath the overhead light. Be sure both containers receive the same amount of light.
4. Measure the temperature of the water in each container at 1-minute intervals for 10 minutes. Record your data in the Results.
5. After you record your 10 minute reading, turn off the light and take your initial reading with the light off.
6. Measure the temperature of the water and soil in each container at 1-minute intervals for 10 minutes. Record your data in the Results.
Results watch the videos, copy the data into these tables
Analysis Answer these completely, make line graphs
1. Graph the data from the table using a line graph in degrees Celsius. Use one colored pencil to show data for the water container and a different one to show data for the soil container with the light on. Make a second graph with the light off. X-Axis: Time (min.), and Y-Axis: Temperature (°C). Draw lines to connect the temperature for each container.
2. Calculate the total change in temperature for each material. Do this by using the following formula:
Total Change = Final Temperature - Initial Temperature
3. Which material had the greater increase in temperature? Why do you think this is?
4. Infer from your graphs which cooled faster—the water or the soil. How could you prove this?
5. What was your independent variable? What was your dependent variable? What are three variables that should remain constant?
6. Relate: What is this modeling in the real world? (Hint: watch above videos)
7a. Draw a picture of the lab setup with the light on. Label the following: lithosphere (land), hydrosphere (water), sun (light), convection arrow/heating up, convection arrow/cooling down, sea breeze.
7b. Draw a picture of the lab setup with the light off. Label the following: lithosphere (land), hydrosphere (water), convection arrow/heating up, convection arrow/cooling down, land breeze.
7b. Draw a picture of the lab setup with the light off. Label the following: lithosphere (land), hydrosphere (water), convection arrow/heating up, convection arrow/cooling down, land breeze.