Vocabulary
water and air
Why does the concrete on the side of the pool feel hotter than the water in the pool during the day?
the concrete absorbs more solar energy than the water (uneven heating) because it is a solid and the pool water is a liquid
What is conduction?
the transfer of energy (heat) from a warmer material to a cooler material through direct contact
What happens to particles in the Earth's surface when the sun shines them?
They speed up and increase their motion.
Name 3 things that will affect how much energy an earth material absorbs.
Must name 3 of the following 4: color, type of matter, length of exposure, intensity of exposure
What is energy transfer?
the movement of energy from one object to another
Which will cool down more quickly once the sun goes down, sand or ocean water?
sand
What is radiation?
the transfer of energy (heat) from one material to another by waves or rays
How is the air heated through radiation?
Some of the sun's radiant energy is absorbed directly by gas particles.
What is the difference between the movement of particles when they expand and contract?
When particles expand, they move farther apart. When particles contract, they move closer together.
McKenna dumps a glass of hot, purple water in a bath of ice water. What will happen to the purple water within 5 seconds? Why?
It will rise to the top of the ice water because it is warmer and less dense.
What is the major source of energy that heats the Earth?
the sun
What happens to the sun's radiant solar energy when it strikes the Earth's surface?
Soil and water absorb energy.
What happens to water/air particles when it warms up and becomes less dense?
the particles expand and rise
Mitch got two identical boxes, one wrapped in navy blue paper and one wrapped in white paper. He put a hole in each box, stuck a thermometer in each hole, and put them both in direct sunlight. Which one heated up more slowly? Why?
The white one because white materials absorb less energy and heat up more slowly.
What is convection?
the transfer of energy by the flow of fluid in liquid or gas
How is the air heated through conduction?
Particles of gas in the air come into contact with Earth's heated surfaces. If the surface is warmer than the air, energy transfers from the surface to the air by conduction; air particles increase their motion (they heat up).
What happens to water/air particles when it cools and becomes more dense?
the particles contract and fall
John wants to make a solar water heater out of plastic. Should he use white or black plastic? Why?
He should use black plastic. A solar water heater is used to heat water. Black plastic will absorb more radiant energy than white plastic, causing the water to heat up more quickly.
Eath materials absorb solar energy at different rates. What does this cause in the air/atmosphere?
wind
Which will absorb more energy and get hotter quicker: wet soil or dry soil? Explain.
Dry soil will absorb more energy than wet soil and therefore heat up more quickly. This happens because the wet soil has water mixed in it, and water heats up more slowly than solids.