Overview of Activity

In this classroom activity, students compare the ability of carbon dioxide to absorb heat as compared to air.

Grade Level: 6 to 12

Difficulty: Intermediate

Activity Type: In Class
URL: http://www.edgewood.brevard.k12.fl.us/webpages/cilsick/2008-2009/Greenhouse%20Gas%20Lab.pdf (Original now defunct link:
http://www.letus.northwestern.edu/projects/gw/activities.html#partII and scroll down to C9, Greenhouse Gas Lab.)
Amount of Time Required for Activity: Two 45-minute periods

Description
Students fill one flask with carbon dioxide given off from an Alka-Seltzer tablet and fill another flask with air. They insert thermometers into each flask and place the flasks in front of a heat source. The students observe the change in temperatures in each flask until the temperatures levels off. They graph their measurements and compare the results from the two flasks. The students then compare their results with the rest of the class.

This activity is based on one produced The Center for Learning Technologies in Urban Schools.

Relation to the Science Standards
Middle School
Content Standard B – Transfer of Energy

High School
Content Standard D – Energy in the Earth System
Content Standard D – Geochemical Cycles
Content Standard F – Environmental Quality


Related Part of the Exhibit
Greenhouse Effect

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