The Digital Bits Science Labs are fun science experiments for young children. Kids, make sure you have an adult's permission before trying any of these science experiments.
Digital Bits Science Lab
Science Experiments for Kids, Parents and Teachers
Duplicating the Greenhouse Effect
Description:
Earth’s atmosphere insulates and heats the Earth. This experiment is a great visual of the Greenhouse Effect.
Equipment needed:
Two identical glasses, filled with cold water.
A sealable bag (like a Zip-Lock bag, or a bag you can twist-tie closed). It must be large enough to completely cover and seal over one of the glasses.
The Digital Bits Science Lab Experiment:
Place on glass in the bag. Seal the bag.
Put both glasses (one in the bag, one not in the bag) in direct sunlight, or close to a very bright light.
Wait for two hours.
Open the bag, and take the temperature of the water in both glasses.
Note the difference between the measurements. Which one is warmer?
Why did this happen? As the sunlight (or bright light bulb) heated the water, the warmer air around the water was trapped inside the glass covered by the bag.
This is an example of how the Greenhouse Effect and the Earth’s atmosphere work – they are good things, to an extent, because they keep heat on our planet and prevent it from getting too cold, and that keeps us alive! But it’s a tricky balance, because by changing Earth’s atmosphere (or by using a thicker bag to cover our glass), we might increase the overall temperature of our planet.
Other articles related to this topic:
- Heat is energy
- Introduction to refraction
- Food coloring fireworks with oil-water separation
- See refraction in a glass of water
- Learn about volume and space with ice water