Exploring Convection Current Lap
Earths Energy Comes From The Sun. Some of this radiant energy is reflected by water droplets & dust particles in the atmosphere & bounced back into space or scattered throughout the atmosphere, some is absorbed by clouds or ozone. The remaining energy that is not absorbed or scattered by the atmosphere reaches the earths surface. This energy is absorbed by the earth & radiated as heat. The heating of the earths surface by the suns radiant energy directly influences the heating of the air above it.Different surfaces absorb varying amounts of incoming solar energy. We can observe that land surfaces warm up & cool off faster than bodies of water. This unequal heating & cooling is a cause of wind currents , cloud formation, & even severe storms in some locations. While the process of differential heating plays a key role in atmosphere circulation, its origins are not always readily apparent.
Materials Needed
- 1 Clear Plastic Box
- 1 Beaker. 50ml
- 1 Pipette
- 6 Styrofoam
Shared Materials
- Food Coloring
- Water (Hot & Cold)
- Ice Cubes
- Colored Pencils
Pre-Lad Questions
Convection - The transfer of heat in a fluid that rises due to density difference
Conduction- The transfer of heat by touching
Radiation- The transfer of heat of by infrared
Conduction- The transfer of heat by touching
Radiation- The transfer of heat of by infrared