Tilt and Temperature Brande’ Arthur Earth Science Gretna High School

Goal n Students should realize that the surface area heats up more quickly when light hits it from a more direct angle. They should also realize that this causes the warmer temperatures of summer

SOL addressed n E.S. 13 n The student will investigate and understand that energy transfer between the sun, Earth, & the Earth’s atmosphere drives weather & climate on Earth

Objectives: n Students will understand the Earth’s surface is much more efficiently heated by the sun than is the atmosphere n Students will understand the amount of energy reaching any given point on the Earth’s surface is controlled by the angle of sunlight striking the surface and varies with the seasons

Objectives con’t: n Students will understand that areas near the equator receive more of the sun’s energy per unit area than areas nearer the poles

Materials

Procedure: n 1. Form a hypothesis based on the information learned in class on if the angle at which light strikes an area on Earth is related to the changing of seasons n 2. Fold black construction paper in half - lengthwise and tape short edges together to form an envelope

Procedure con’t: n 3. Place temperature probe in envelope n 4. Shine light at a 0 degree angle to envelope n 5. Record temps using Logger pro for 15 minutes n 6. Change angle to 45 degrees and repeat step 5 n 7. Change angle to 90 degrees and repeat step 5 n 8. Change angle to 45 degrees again and repeat step 5

Assessment: n Graph outcome: The temperature changes of the earth represent the changing of the seasons

Assessment con’t n The graph shows the areas near the equator represented with 0 degree angle receives more of the sun’s energy per unit area than areas nearer the poles represented with 90 degree angle

Assessment n Students should be able to write a conclusion explaining the purpose of the lab. They should be able to explain what variable was used and why. They should be able to prove or disprove his hypothesis using the data collected. The student should be able to explain the relationship of the angles of light with the angles of the Earth and the effects that this has on our weather and climate