Name: Rane Dutcher

Lab: Modeling the

Greenhouse Effect
INTRODUCTION:

The surface of the earth, warmed by solar radiation, has an average

temperature around +18 degrees C (59 F). This is much cooler than the surface of the
Sun, so the energy emitted from the earths surface is at much longer wavelengths than
solar radiation. This terrestrial radiation is located between 4 and 100 micrometers
(mm) in the infrared band of the electromagnetic spectrum. Infrared radiation is the
heat you feel when you hold your hand near a warm radiator, Your hand, like everything
else in the universe, radiates heat. Heat and light are both forms of energy but unlike
visible light, infrared radiation can be absorbed or trapped by certain gases in the
atmosphere.
The infrared energy that is absorbed in the atmosphere makes the air warm. The air in
turn, radiates heat, which is still at infrared wavelengths. Some of this heat goes back
toward the surface, warming the land, the water and the living organisms. This
atmosphere-surface cycling of heat energy is known as the greenhouse effect and the
gases involved in this process are called greenhouse gases. The greenhouse effect is a
natural, integral part of the Earth system. Without it, we would not be here. Our planet
is comfortably warm for life because it is surrounded by a blanket of air that keeps the
earth some 33 degrees C warmer that in would be otherwise, and allows for the
existence of oceans of liquid water and living creatures like us.

OBJECTIVES:

To form a model of the heating of the Earths atmosphere

To provide an opportunity to build and test a physical model analogous to the
atmospheric greenhouse effect
To practice setting up a controlled experiment, recording data, graphic and
analyzing results.

HYPOTHESIS:
I

BELIEVE THE COVERED CUP WILL WARM UP MORE THAN THE UNCOVERED CUP BECAUSE THE COVERED
CUP REPRESENTS THE GREENHOUSE EFFECT, CAPTUREING THE HEAT INSIDE IT.

DEFINE THE FOLLOWING:

Greenhouse effect: What keeps the Earth at an average temperature suitable for
all living things.
Energy: The property of matter and radiation that is used to do something.
Electromagnetic spectrum: The entire range of frequencies of electromagnetic
radiation.
Infrared heat: Heat that comes from infrared radiation. Comes from objects that
absorbed sunlight.

Ultraviolet: having a wavelength shorter than the violet end of the visible spectrum
but longer than that of X-rays.
Independent variable: A variable that does not depend on something else.
Dependent variable: A variable that depends on something else.
Control: Unchanging standard of comparison

MATERIALS
Two small plastic bottles
2 thermometers
Tape
Plastic wrap
Scissors
Colored pencils
Graph paper
Dark soil
Sunlamp

PROCEDURE:
1. Cut the top of each bottle off so that it is easy to add soil.
2. Add 2 cm of soil to each bottle.
3. Tape a thermometer to each bottle about 2 inches from the top and above the
soil (see drawing).
4. Record the starting temperature in the data table for each bottle. (24 C)
5. Place plastic wrap over the top of one of the bottles and tape it shut. The other
bottle should be left uncovered.
6. Place both bottles directly under a sun lamp.
7. Measure the temperature and record the measurement in the data table every
minute for 20 minutes.

COLLECTING AND ANALYZING DATA

DATA TABLE
Box temperature
Covered (C)
Uncovered (C)

Time (Minutes)
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13

24
24
26
30
31
32
33
34
34
36
36
40
40

Degrees Celsius
C
C
C
C
C
C
C
C
C
C
C
C

24
24
26
27
28
29
29
30
30
30
31
32
32

Degrees Celsius
C
C
C
C
C
C
C
C
C
C
C
C

14
15
16
17
18
19
20

41
41
41
42
42
42
42

C
C
C
C
C
C
C

32
32
32
32
32
33
33

C
C
C
C
C
C
C

Use the graph provided to graph temperature vs. time.

1. What is the independent variable in this experiment?
The Time
2. What is the dependent variable in this experiment?
The Temperature
3. What were the controls in this experiment?
The Heating Mechanism and the Two Different Containers
4. Which container heated more rapidly?
The Covered Container

DRAWING CONCLUSIONS
1. Why did one bottle heat more rapidly than the other?
Since one bottle had a cover, it was keeping the heat all inside, preventing most of
it from escaping.
2. If glass, aluminum foil or waxed paper were used other than the plastic wrap,
predict the result.
The bottle would have heated up so much quicker because glass and aluminum foil
absorb heat, unlike the plastic wrap.
3. Which bottle was more like earths atmosphere?
The covered bottle.
4. Which parts of the model represent which parts of the atmosphere?
The atmosphere is represented at the plastic wrap and the plastic bottle that
surround the dirt, or earth.
5. In what ways is the greenhouse effect different than the model?

The model does not have any gasses that could make the bottle heat up faster.
The lamp also didnt have different kinds of radiation that could tamper with the
results as well.