Name ______Date______Class Period______

Heating of Land and Water

In this lab you will model the difference in the heating of land and water when it is subjected to a sources of radiation. You will first assemble simple tools. Then you will observe and record temperature data. Finally, you will explain the results of the experiment and how they related to the moderating influence of water on air temperatures near Earth’s surface.

Problem: How do the heating of land and water compare?

Materials:

2 beakers (250 mL)

Dry Sand

Tap Water

Ring Stands

Heat Lamp/light source

2 Thermometers

Graph Paper

3 Colored Pencils

Predictions:

  1. What do you think would happen to the temperature over a 10-minute period when sand and water are heated?
  1. What do you think would happen to the temperature if you remove the heat source?

Procedures:

  1. Pour sand about half full (200mL) into one beaker and pour tap water about half full (200mL) into the other beaker.
  2. Place the heat lamp on the ring stand so it is about 5 inches away from the sand and water. The lamp should be equal distances away from both the sand and water.
  3. Place the thermometer into the sand and water to where the bulb is barely under the water and sand. Use a pencil to help prop up the thermometer.
  4. Record the temperature of the sand and water every two minutes for tenminutes.
  5. Turn the lamp off at this time. Continue to record every two minutes the temperature for the sand and water for the remaining ten minutes.
  6. Record the data in the chart below.
  7. Graph the data in the graph paper provided.

Land and Water Heating Data Table
Starting Temp / 2
min / 4
min / 6 min / 8 min / 10
min / 12 min / 14
min / 16 min / 18 min / 20 min
Water
Sand

Conclusion:

  1. How does the changing temperature differ for sand and water?
  1. Which heats faster? Land or Water? Explain why.
  1. What is albedo?
  1. If light surfaces have a high reflectivity, would the albedo of the land surface of Antarctica be high or low? Explain.
  1. Explain three ways heat is transferred on Earth.
  1. What is reflection?
  1. What is radiation?
  1. Where does most of the energy that drives weather and climate come from?
  1. What was the most difficult part of this experiment?
  1. What are possible sources of error in this experiment?
  1. Explain the purpose of this experiment?
  1. Use the data you collected to create a graph plotting the temperate for the water and dry sand. Use a different color line to connect the points for each material. (See the graph on page 497 of your textbook for an example of setting up your graph.)