Investigating the Temperature of Air Lesson 4: Inquiry 4.1

Big Question How does the temperature of the earth’s surface affect the temperature of the air above it?

Hypothesis If _________, then________, because______. If the temperature of the surface air is warm then the temperature of the air above it will ______________, because_______________. If the temperature of the surface is cold then the temperature of the air above it will be____________, because_______________.

Materials 2 – Convection Tubes 1 – Container of hot water 1 – Container of ice 1 – Stopwatch 1 – Digital Thermometer

Constants Same amount of ice and water. Materials under the convection tube for the same amount of time. The thermometer will be used in degrees of Celsius.

Variables The temperature of the surface will change when using different materials of the water and the ice.

Complete the Inquiry

Conclusion Restate the Big Question State whether or not your hypothesis was accurate and explain why.

Inquiry 4.1 – Reflection Questions A. How did the temperature of each container of water affect the temperature of the air above it? The hot water heated the air directly above it. This means that the temperature of Thermometer B probably rose higher than the temperature of Thermometer A in the Convection Tube with the hot water. The cold water cooled the air directly above it. This means that in the Convection Tube with the cold water, the cold water made the temperature of Thermometer B drop.

Inquiry 4.1 – Reflection Questions B. The movement of heat is called heat transfer. Describe the heat transfer between the container of hot water and the air. Describe the heat transfer between the container of cold water and the air. Heat energy always moves from warm materials to cooler ones. Therefore, heat moved [1] from the warm water to the cooler air, and [2] from the warm air to the cooler water, which heated the water and cooled the air.

Inquiry 4.1 – Reflection Questions C. Under what conditions was it difficult to see through the cylinder? Why do you think this happened? The inside of the tube with the hot water “fogged” up, because moisture formed on the inside of the Convection Tube. More condensation took place with hot water than with cold water, because of greater evaporation from the container of hot water.

Inquiry 4.1 – Reflection Questions D. Why do you think covering the container helped keep the cylinder clear? The plastic reduced evaporation by blocking the escape of water vapor.

Lesson 4: Vocabulary Heat – a form of energy that transfers because of a temperature difference Temperature – an indication of the amount of heat energy in matter   Air masses – bodies of air with nearly uniform conditions of temperature and humidity, they take on the conditions of the surface over which it forms

Lesson 4: Vocabulary Stable air mass – when the temperature of an air mass does not decrease with altitude   Unstable air mass – when the temperature of an air mass decreases rapidly with an increase in altitude Latent heat – heat required to change a substance from one state to another (example – liquid water changing to water vapor through evaporation)

Lesson 4: Vocabulary Evaporation – water changes from a liquid to a gas, water vapor Condensation – water vapor rises and cools causing it to change into liquid or ice   Sublimation – transition from a solid to a gas phase so rapidly that the liquid phase cannot be observed (example – snow)