Do Different Colors Absorb Heat Better?
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Provided by: Teach Engineering|Published on: September 21, 2023
Lesson PlansScientist Reviewed
K12
Scientist Reviewed This resource has been reviewed by SubjectToClimate's climate scientists and verified for scientific accuracy and up-to-date information. Learn about our review process →
Synopsis
- In this experiment, students will determine if certain colors absorb light energy better than others by creating different colored paper cubes to see how long it takes ice cubes to melt inside each box.
- The experiment can be completed indoors with a heat lamp or outside in the sun and the more advanced steps can be skipped for younger students.
Subjects: Science, Mathematics
Authors: Teach Engineering
Region: Global
Languages: English
Teaching Materials
Positives
- The video in the beginning does a nice job of demonstrating how to make the boxes.
- The lesson gives examples of the use of color in managing heat absorption from the Sun.
Additional Prerequisites
- The link for the activity worksheet listed under the Materials and Procedure sections will actually take you to the rubric, but the link under the Worksheets and Attachments section is correct.
- Some vocabulary terms may be too advanced for younger students.
- You may want to start off with just black and white paper for younger or less advanced students and discuss or display the electromagnetic spectrum prior to beginning this experiment for older students.
Differentiation
- Students who are still working on fine motor and cutting skills may need the box template cut for them ahead of time.
- Older students who have a basic understanding of solar energy can discuss what this experiment may mean for solar energy (there is no link for additional solar content in the resource).
- Math classes can spend more time with the graphs and answer questions related to the graphs.
- This would be a nice experiment to transition from a unit on states of matter to a unit on the sun, heat, and/or energy.
- Connect this experiment to climate change by discussing why more melting sea ice that reveals dark ocean water might increase global warming.
Scientist Notes
Teaching Tips
Standards
Resource Type and Format
Scientist Reviewed
This resource has been reviewed by SubjectToClimate's climate scientists and verified for scientific accuracy and up-to-date information. Our review process ensures that every resource in our library reflects the current state of climate science.
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