EES: Heat Capacity & Thermal conductivity

Purpose

A series of controlled experiments are used to give students a sense of the capacity of different materials to absorb and store heat.

Overview

Place closed containers of rock, soil, water and air on a) window sill, b) dark closet, c) in a fridge. Also consider mixtures, particularly air over water, air over soil and wet soil. Read fixed, calibrated thermometers once a day for a week. How do temps change? Which changes the most/ varies least? Graph your results. Speculate how these factors affect your environment and that of another GLOBE school with important differences from your school.

Time Required

• One period, set-up
• One week, observations 10 min/day
• One period, analysis

Skill Level

• Intermediate

Key Concepts and Skills

• Concepts: Soil, water and air have different heat capacities. Water significantly affects these properties in soils and air.
• Skills: observation, construction, description, measuring

Materials and Tools

• 6-18 glass jars or plastic soda bottles, with tops
• Soil, water, rocks, air
• Data notebook & Graph paper