In this brief experiment, students will learn about infrared energy, the electromagnetic spectrum, and test different materials for their capacity to transmit or block infrared energy.
Students can begin to develop an understanding of material choices in engineering and design projects and connect it to the electromagnetic spectrum, heat energy, and insulation.
Teaching Tips
Positives
This worksheet provides common examples of different parts of the electromagnetic spectrum and photos to support understanding.
This experiment could easily be expanded to include many other classroom materials.
Additional Prerequisites
Although the worksheet introduces the electromagnetic spectrum, it may help students to introduce this concept beforehand.
Materials needed for the activity include an infrared camera, picture frames, and sheets of black and clear plastic.
Differentiation
This is a great resource to use as part of a physics unit about electromagnetic radiation or a biology lesson about photosynthesis, vision, metabolism, the greenhouse effect, or energy transfers between trophic levels.
Try connecting this activity with a discussion about how this concept is connected to global warming using the following guiding questions: which materials on Earth reflect or absorb infrared energy and what is the resulting impact on our climate?
This resource requires the use of an infrared camera or imager, and presents concepts of energy, wavelengths, and radiation. After describing these concepts, examples are presented including ear thermometers and microwaves. Additionally, this resource describes experiments that can be done with an infrared thermometer that parallel what is presented in the Resource PRI-4 video. This resource is recommended for teaching.
Standards
Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS)
ESS3: Earth and Human Activity
MS-ESS3-5 Ask questions to clarify evidence of the factors that have caused the rise in global temperatures over the past century.
PS4: Waves and Their Applications in Technologies for Information Transfer
MS-PS4-2 Develop and use a model to describe that waves are reflected, absorbed, or transmitted through various materials.
Common Core English Language Arts Standards (CCSS.ELA)
Reading: Science & Technical Subjects (6-12)
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RST.6-8.3 Follow precisely a multistep procedure when carrying out experiments, taking measurements, or performing technical tasks.
