ABSORPTION AND REFLECTION OF ENERGY

(light surface/dark surface lab)

BACKGROUND: Earths surface varies in both chemical and physical properties. The wavelength
of solar radiation that is absorbed by an earth material is changed and re-radiated as heat. The
characteristics of the surface determine what happens to the incoming solar radiation.

OBJECTIVE: You will determine how the surface characteristics of a material affect the relative
rates of energy absorption and radiation.

VOCABULARY USED:
Absorption
Reflection

PROCEDURE:
1. Without doing a thing, READ the procedure and answer the pre-lab questions.
2. Create two data tables that look like the data tables below.
3. Place the end of one thermometer in the pocket of white paper and the end of the other
thermometer into the pocket of black paper.
4. Arrange the thermometers so that each them are about 5 - 10 cm away from the light (the
heat source).
5. On the Data Table, record the temperature of each Thermometer at time 0.
6. Turn on the lamp and read the thermometers at one minute intervals for 10 minutes. Record
the data on the Data Table.
7. Without disturbing the position of the thermometers, turn off the lamp and turn it away from
the area of the thermometers. CONTINUE TIMING.
8. Continue to take the temperature readings every minute for another 10 minutes recording
them on the Data Table.
9. Graph your data. Plot both curves on the same set of axes. Place time on the horizontal (x)
axis and temperature on the vertical (y) axis. (Graphing while you wait for the next minute to
pass will help you finish this lab on time.)

DATA TABLES
Lamp On Lamp Off
Time Black White Time Black White
(min.) Paper (C) Paper (C) (min.) Paper (C) Paper (C)
0 11
1 12
2 13
3 14
4 15
5 16
6 17
7 18
8 19
9 20
10
1. Did one thermometer
absorb more heat than the
other? If so, which?
2. What conclusion can you
make about the color of a
surface and its ability to
absorb and radiate energy?
3. If you were designing a
house for a village in
northern Brazil (near the
equator), describe the type
of material you would use
for the roof and explain why
you would use it. Use the
data from this lab to support
your answer.
4. JUST BY LOOKING AT
THE GRAPH, can you
identify the location where
you turned the lamp off? At
what time did this occur?
How do you know?
5. What characteristics of the
surfaces used in this lab
determined the rates of
heating and cooling?
1. Did one thermometer
absorb more heat than the
other? If so, which?
2. What conclusion can you
make about the color of a
surface and its ability to
absorb and radiate energy?
3. If you were designing a
house for a village in
northern Brazil (near the
equator), describe the type
of material you would use
for the roof and explain why
you would use it. Use the
data from this lab to support
your answer.
4. JUST BY LOOKING AT
THE GRAPH, can you
identify the location where
you turned the lamp off? At
what time did this occur?
How do you know?
5. What characteristics of the
surfaces used in this lab
determined the rates of
heating and cooling?
1. Did one thermometer
absorb more heat than the
other? If so, which?
2. What conclusion can you
make about the color of a
surface and its ability to
absorb and radiate energy?
3. If you were designing a
house for a village in
northern Brazil (near the
equator), describe the type
of material you would use
for the roof and explain why
you would use it. Use the
data from this lab to support
your answer.
4. JUST BY LOOKING AT
THE GRAPH, can you
identify the location where
you turned the lamp off? At
what time did this occur?
How do you know?
5. What characteristics of the
surfaces used in this lab
determined the rates of
heating and cooling?
 ABSORPTION AND REFLECTION OF ENERGY LAB
(dark surface vs. light surface)
PRE-LAB QUESTIONS:

C. What is the dependent variable in this lab? (Which one did we not know going
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___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________

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A. Why is important to place both thermometers an equal distance from the
lamp?

B. What is the independent variable in this lab? (Which one did we decide to
A. Why is important to place both thermometers an equal distance from the
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________

into the lab? Which variable changed because of the other variable?)
ABSORPTION AND REFLECTION OF ENERGY LAB
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change? Which variable caused a change in the other variable?)

B. What is the independent variable in this lab? (Which one did we decide to
change? Which variable caused a change in the other variable?)
___________________________________________________________________

(dark surface vs. light surface)

C. What is the dependent variable in this lab? (Which one did we not know going
into the lab? Which variable changed because of the other variable?)
___________________________________________________________________
ABSORPTION AND REFLECTION OF ENERGY LAB
(dark surface vs. light surface)
PRE-LAB QUESTIONS:
A. Why is important to place both thermometers an equal distance from the
lamp?
___________________________________________________________________

PRE-LAB QUESTIONS:
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
B. What is the independent variable in this lab? (Which one did we decide to

lamp?
change? Which variable caused a change in the other variable?)
___________________________________________________________________
C. What is the dependent variable in this lab? (Which one did we not know going
into the lab? Which variable changed because of the other variable?)
___________________________________________________________________