In this hands-on uneven heating of Earth activity, students measure how the angle at which the Earth receives light changes the intensity and spread of the light. EASY SUPPLIES (with easy substitutions)!
⭐ Get this at a discount in my Atmospheric & Oceanic Circulation COMPLETE UNIT!
In this activity, students will:
- PERFORM THE LAB: Students aim a flashlight (or a cell phone light – see note below) at graph paper at various angles and measure the area that the light spreads. Clear and easy-to-follow instructions are included, as well as a data table to record results.
- GRAPH area of light versus angle of light to see that the larger the angle, the larger the area that the light spreads over and the less concentrated it is.
- ANSWER follow-up analysis questions, including a CER.
Easy Materials List:
- Flashlight (I’ve included instructions on how to rig a cellphone flashlight to work, as well.)
- Toilet paper or paper towel tube (Not necessary if using the cell phone set-up.)
- Tape
- Ruler
- Graph paper (printable graph paper included with purchase)
- Protractor (printable protractor included with purchase)
- Also required but can be substituted: box, clipboard, colored pencils
⭐ IMPORTANT NOTE ⭐ This lab setup is the same as my seasons lab, however, this version has different questions that focus on the uneven heating of Earth and its effect on oceanic and atmospheric currents. If you have already done my seasons lab with a class, this lab would be redundant, even though it does have a different “spin.”
Teacher Notes:
- Check out my Atmospheric & Oceanic Circulation COMPLETE UNIT!
- INCLUDES AN ANSWER KEY.
- Please note that this hands-on uneven heating of Earth activity is not editable.
- NGSS Standard: MS-ESS2-6: Develop and use a model to describe how unequal heating and rotation of the Earth cause patterns of atmospheric and oceanic circulation that determine regional climates.
- NGSS Science & Engineering Practice: Developing and using models; Planning and carrying out investigations; Analyzing and interpreting data; Engaging in argument from evidence
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