How temperature affects sun-struck windows
Grade Level: Intermediate
Objective
The student will discover temperature differences in boxes with windows facing different directions.
Material
Three cardboard boxes (same size), white paint, three thermometers, plastic wrap, masking tape, scissors, knife.
Procedure
- Paint all three boxes white to reduce the amount of heat absorbed by the box.
- Carefully cut a large window in one side of two boxes. Make sure the window is exactly the same size in both boxes.
- Place a thermometer in each box. Be sure to place the thermometer so that you can read it through the window. Cut a
little door in the box without windows so you can read the temperature in that box. Tape the thermometers in place.
- Cover the windows with plastic wrap and tape the plastic wrap securely to the box.
- Point one box so that the window is facing the sun. Place the second box so that the window is at right angles to
the sun. Put the third box in the sun near the other two boxes.
- Read and record the temperature at 10-minute intervals.
| Box |
Temperature |
| Original |
after 10 min |
after 20 min |
after 30 min |
| Window facing sun |
|
|
|
|
| Window not facing sun |
|
|
|
|
| Without windows |
|
|
|
|
Questions
- Which box had the highest temperature?
- What was the purpose of the box without windows?
- Would the result be different at different times of the day?
- Would the results be different at different times of the year?
Reprinted from Energy Learning Centers. Printed with permission from the Arizona Energy Office of the Department of Commerce.
