Climate change experiment ideas

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Randall Montgomery
5 years ago
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1 Climate change experiment ideas The greenhouse effect How does the greenhouse effect impact temperature? We predict Two litre pop bottles two clear containers small enough to fit inside pop bottle (e.g. small glass or plastic s) heat lamp (if no sunny spot) 1. Put one thermometer in each of the clear containers. 2. Place the containers in a sunny spot or beside a heat lamp. 3. Use scissors to cut the bottom off the pop bottle. Take off any labels but leave the cap on. 4. Place the top part of the pop bottle over one of the s. 5. Record the temperature of both thermometers at the beginning and then every five minutes for 30 to 60 minutes. Be careful using the scissors to cut the bottom off the plastic bottle. If glass s are used make sure they re placed in a safe place where they won t be knocked over. Grade 7 module lesson 3: Causes of climate change Page 1 of 5

2 Carbon dioxide and temperature Does carbon dioxide affect temperature? We predict that Two, two litre pop bottles two clear containers small enough to fit inside pop bottle small plastic bottle with small opening tape heat lamp (if no sunny spot) funnel balloon baking soda and white vinegar Set up 1. Put one thermometer in each of the clear containers. 2. Place the containers in a sunny spot or beside a heat lamp. 3. Use scissors to cut the bottom off the pop bottles. Take off labels but leave the cap on. 4. Place the top part of the pop bottles over both s. Tape the pop bottle to the table surface for a good seal. Grade 7 module lesson 3: Causes of climate change Page 2 of 5

3 Creating carbon dioxide 5. Pour approximately two inches of white vinegar in the bottom of the small bottle. 6. Use the funnel to fill the balloon approximately one quarter full of baking soda. 7. While keeping the baking soda in the balloon, attach the balloon to the top of the small bottle. 8. When ready, lift the balloon and let the baking soda fall into the vinegar and watch the balloon fill with gas (carbon dioxide). Adding carbon dioxide to one bottle 9. When the balloon has filled with gas (carbon dioxide), pinch it off the bottle. 10. Remove the cap from one of the pop bottles with the thermometer inside. 11. Squeeze the gas from the balloon into the bigger pop bottle and quickly put the cap back on. 12. Record the temperature of both thermometers at the beginning and then every 10 minutes for one hour. Be careful using the scissors to cut the bottom off the pop bottles. If glass s are used to hold the thermometers, make sure they re placed in a safe place where they won t be knocked over. Grade 7 module lesson 3: Causes of climate change Page 3 of 5

4 Reflectivity and temperature Which surfaces absorb heat and melt ice faster? We predict that Two, two litre pop bottle aluminum foil heat lamp black construction paper 1. Use scissors to cut off the top third of the pop bottles. 2. Put one thermometer in each of the pop bottles. 3. Wrap one of the pop bottles with aluminum foil and the other with black construction paper. Make sure the wraps are snug and almost twice as high as the bottles. 4. Place the containers in a sunny spot or beside a heat lamp. 5. Record the temperature of both thermometers at the beginning and then every 10 minutes for one hour. 6. After the hour, turn the heat lamp off and feel the black paper and aluminum foil. What do you notice? Aluminum foil Black construction paper Be careful using the scissors when cutting the pop bottles. Make sure the bottles are placed in a safe place where they won t be knocked over. Grade 7 module lesson 3: Causes of climate change Page 4 of 5

5 Conclusions The greenhouse effect The pop bottle acts like a greenhouse and like the greenhouse gases in our atmosphere, traps in heat. Similarly, the greenhouse effect traps heat on Earth s surface and causes the temperature to rise. Carbon dioxide and temperature Carbon dioxide absorbs energy and effectively traps heat in the air. As a greenhouse gas, it absorbs energy and traps heat, increasing the temperature on Earth. Reflectivity and temperature Dark colours absorb heat more effectively than lighter colours and shiny surfaces reflect heat more effectively than dull surfaces. The black construction paper simulates the earth and rock; the shiny aluminum foil simulates the shinier reflective surface of glaciers and ice sheets. As glaciers and ice sheets melt, there are fewer shiny surfaces and more dark surfaces, causing the land and oceans to absorb more heat. Grade 7 module lesson 3: Causes of climate change Page 5 of 5

Goal(s): To make a very basic solar oven to illustrate how the sun can be a source of renewable energy. To illustrate the Greenhouse Effect

SOLAR OVEN Goal(s): To make a very basic solar oven to illustrate how the sun can be a source of renewable energy. To illustrate the Greenhouse Effect General description of the activity: The pupils are