1. Do DIFFERENT COLORS ABSORB HEAT BETTER?
BY: Mylie Hill

2. Activity place students in groups
students make 4 different color boxes for testing (white, yellow, red, black)
give each group 4 ice cubes (one per box)
leave ice cubes placed in colored boxes in the sun or under heat lamp
predict which color box melts ice first
record the order and time required to melt ice

3. Colors Time to Melt (Min)
Worksheet to record findings
Group Members:____________________________________
Do different colors absorb heat better than others?
Colors Time to Melt (Min)
White___________________________________
Red_____________________________________
Yellow___________________________________
Black____________________________________
Which ice cube melted first, second, third, and fourth?

4. Pictures of Activity

5. During Experiment
Before
After

6. CONTENT COVERD certain colors absorb light better than others
the sun produces heat and light
Why do ice cubes melt?
the purpose of solar panels
changes that occur in objects
On a summer afternoon, the black roof at left was measured to be 54ºF (30ºC) warmer than the white roof at right

7. Vocab/definitions
heat: A form of energy that causes substances to rise in temperature or to go through associated phase changes (as melting, evaporation, or expansion).
solar energy: Energy derived from sunlight.
solar cell: A photo-electric cell that converts sunlight directly into electrical energy and can be used as a power source.
solar panel: A group of solar cells forming a flat surface (as on a spacecraft).
energy: The capacity for doing work; raising weight, for example.
absorb: To take in; to transform (radiant energy) into a different form usually with a resulting rise in temperature.
reflect: To bounce waves of light, sound, or heat off a surface.
radiant energy: Energy (as heat waves, light waves, radio waves, x-rays) transmitted in the form of electromagnetic waves.

8. REAL EXAMPLES
Engineers use understanding of how different colors reflect light/heat
design products & find solutions
Asphalt roads/tar roofs absorb heat
white roofs reflect heat cooling temperatures
People use the knowledge when deciding what to wear
white shirt on sunny day
dark shirt on cooler day
Workers install a white roof in Atlanta, Georgia,
to reduce the amount of energy required to keep the inside building

9. Lesson can be used in….. Kindergarten-second grade classrooms
Earth and Space science
During Physical science lesson
Investigate properties of matter & changes occurring in objects
Investigate melting objects

10. Standards…
Second grade Georgia Standard- Students will investigate the properties of matter and changes that occur in objects. Investigate melting objects International Technology &Engineering Educators Association- Different materials are used in making things. (Grades 0 - 2) Asking questions and making observations helps a person to figure out how things work. (Grades 0 - 2) Energy comes in many forms. (Grades 0 - 2) Compare, contrast, and classify collected information in order to identify patterns. (Grades 3 – 5)