Analysis: The following are to be done by each individual. You are encouraged to discuss the questions.
1. Graph the data your group collected. You will be creating two lines on one graph. One of the lines will be the temperature of the air just above the soil over the full 20 minutes. The other line will be the temperature of the air just above the water over the full 20 minutes. Therefore, you will need to make a key for the soil line and the water line. Additionally, please designate on the graph when the light was on and when it was off.
2. Did the air heat up faster over the soil or the water ? Give specific data from the lab to back-up your answer.
3. When the light was off, which lost heat faster ? This question may at first confuse you. Keep in mind that the question is not asking which got to a cooler temperature, rather which one lost heat faster. Give specific data from the lab to back-up your answer.
When writing a hypothesis you must suggest how you believe one variable will effect another variable. This lab is comprised of two experiments. One of the experiments was with the light on and the other was with the light off.
4. What were the independent variables ?
5. What were the dependent variables ?
6. Does your data support your hypothesis ? Give specific data from the lab to back-up your answer.
7. List several of the constants (the things that were intentionally done the same so that the results would truly measure the effects of the independent variable) in the experiment.
8. Do you feel that there were any technical problems when you did the lab that may have impacted your results ? If so, explain them and how they could be avoided.
9. The reason for the differences in the rates of absorption and release of heat for soil and water is how the soil and water transferred the heat. With this in mind, describe why you believe your group got the results it got(refer to your notes “can’t touch this” and the background information concerning heat transfer). Make sure to describe how the methods of heat transfer in each phase of matter effect your results.
10. Have you ever been at the beach in the summer ? Is the sand hot or cold when you walk barefoot in the afternoon ? If you dig just a couple of inches below the surface is the sand hot or cool ?
11. Why do you think the temperature in a cave is relatively constant year round ?
12. Why is the water in a swimming pool relatively the same temperature at the surface and at the bottom ?
13. Few people go to Virginia beaches to swim in June. June 21st or so has approximately 18 hours of sun in Virginia. Why isn’t the water warmer ? Why is it so much warmer in August ?
14. Completely describe why there is a nice cool breeze at the beach during the day and at night ? Check out this link before answering this question:
15. This link will give monthly precipitation amounts. Once you have opened the link, zoom into Myanmar and click on Putao, Myanmar (in northern Myanmar). This location reflectsa very dramatic difference between summer and winter precipitation amounts in parts of the Indian Subcontinent. Complete the following two diagrams to explain why Cherrapunji, India receives upwards of 400 inches of rain over a 3 month period and almost none the remainder of the year (Cherrapunji got 1,042 inches of rain in 1861) . Additionally, how do these factors create the Gobi Desert ?
Label in the Gobi Desert and the Bay of Bengal; warm and cold areas, high and low pressure areas, and then draw arrows showing wind direction. Summer is analogous to a Sea Breeze during the daytime and winter is analogous to a Land Breeze at nighttime.
Orographic Effect: view this animation-
• as air is blown up and over mountains, clouds form and it rains
• as air descends on the other side of the mountain, the clouds evaporate and it is dry