Atmospheric Processes - Radiation

Students will understand that the physical characteristics of a surface have a powerful effect on the way that surface absorbs and releases heat from the sun. Students will investigate how different surfaces absorb heat and apply their experience with the surfaces to interpret real-world situations. Activity with charts for recording data and expanding interpretations for hypothical cities.

Weblink address (URL): 
Atmospheric Processes - Radiation

Standards & Objectives

Learning objectives: 

Learning Goals:

  • Students will understand that the physical characteristics of a surface have a powerful effect on the way that surface absorbs and releases heat from the sun.
  • Students will understand that radiation of heat occurs without the involvement of a physical object.
Essential and guiding questions: 

Questions:

  • Which material absorbed more heat in the first ten minutes?
  • Which material lost the most heat in the last ten minutes?
  • Imagine that it's summer and that the sun is shining on the ocean and on a stretch of land. Which will heat up more during the day? Which will cool more slowly at night? Explain.
  • Which city would likely have the highest average summer air temperature and why?
  • The earth's surface tends to lose heat in winter. Which of the above cities would have the warmest average winter temperature? Why?
  • Since the sun is approximately 93 million miles from the earth and space has no temperature, how do we get heat from the sun?
  • How would the uneven energy absorption by different surfaces on earth (water, soil, snow, trees, sand, etc.) affect the atmosphere?

 

Lesson Variations

Blooms taxonomy level: 
Understanding
Differentiation suggestions: 

Modifications for Alternative Learners

  • Do an oral assessment for students with limited reading and writing skills.

Helpful Hints

Materials for Each Group of Students:

  • Three pie pans
  • Dark potting soil
  • Light-colored sand or perlite
  • Water
  • Three thermometers
  • Reflector lamp with a 200-watt bulb
  • Graph paper
  • Watch with a second hand

 

References

Contributors: 
Virginia Cooter
Originator: 
Ayers Institute for Learning & Innovation