The heat capacity demonstration illustrates that different Earth materials have varying heat capacities. This demonstration highlights that the temperatures of water and sand increase at different rates when heated over a period of time. This demonstration should take approximately 15 minutes.

 

Important: Review all procedures in the Heat Capacity Demonstration handout prior to implementing this demonstration. The Heat Capacity Demonstration handout contains background information, a list of required materials, demonstration procedures, a sample data chart, and discussion questions.

 

1. Prepare the heat capacity demonstration with two 1000-ml beakers containing water and sand. (See the Heat Capacity Demonstration handout for details.)

 

2. Record an initial temperature for water and sand.

 

3. Heat the beakers and record temperatures at 10 minutes. Turn off the burners after the 10 minute temperature reading.

 

4. Have students compare the rates of the temperature increases for each material. Discuss the data with students. See the Heat Capacity Demonstration handout for discussion questions. Ask students to explain why they think different materials heat at different rates.

 

- You may wish to gather an additional temperature measurement at the end of the class period and discuss the heat retention rates of each material.

 

5. Inform students that they will learn about planetary energy balance.

 

6. Distribute the Planetary Energy Balance Exploration Sheet to each of the students.

 

7. Ask students to go to the Student Resources Web page and click the Planetary Energy Balance link.

 

8. Instruct students to read the content pages about planetary energy balance and answer the questions on their exploration sheets. Explain and clarify terminology and concepts as needed.

 

Note: Students should complete the first half of the Planetary Energy Balance Exploration Sheet during this class period and will complete the remaining questions during the next class period.