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Atmosphere

Investigation 1

Investigation 1

Atmosphere

Phase 1 – Defined Understanding

Access Student Guide

Download and Distribute

Access Teacher Guide

Student Guide with answers

Teacher PreLab

Prepare for the Experiment

Phase 2 – Dynamic Understanding

Phase 2 – Dynamic Understanding

 

Investigation One Summary – Lab Goals

In Investigation One, you explored the effects of changing temperature in the atmosphere. In particular, changes in density and air movement are a result of temperature differences in the atmosphere. During this Investigation, you:

1. Applied Charles Law as you heated and cooled air inside a flask to measure changes in volume and density.

2. Measured the change in temperature of air above and below an ice pack and hot metal cube.

 

Investigation One Summary – Learning Goals

Through these experiments, you concluded that:

1. The volume and density of air change with temperature changes. According to Charles Law, as the temperature of air increases, its volume increases and its density decreases. As the temperature of air decreases, its volume decreases, and its density increases.

2. As air is heated its density decreases because its mass remains constant but its volume increases. As air is cooled, its density increases because its mass remains constant but its volume decreases.

3. Air is a fluid. Fluids that are more dense sink below those that are less dense. The decrease in density as air is heated causes it to rise above cooler, more dense air. The increase in density as air is cooled causes it to sink below warmer, less dense air.

4. The warmer air in the atmosphere rises and cooler air in the atmosphere sinks. This causes convection currents in the atmosphere.

Launch Concept Slides/Annotations

Mathematics Concepts in This Investigation

 

  • temperature in Celsius using digital thermometer
  • calculating density in g/cm3
  • problem-solving
  • angles
  • comparing (non)measurable characteristics
  • measuring mass using a digital scale
  • mass in grams
  • time in minutes
  • diameter in mm/cm
  • volume in mL
  • calculating volume
  • multiplication
  • manipulating mathematical formulas
  • division
  • decimals to the nearest tenth and/or hundredth
  • data table
  • data analysis
  • (in)direct relationships
  • patterns/trends
  • greater than/less than/equal to
  • comparing values/measurements
  • subtraction

Phase 3 – Deeper Understanding

Investigation 1

Formative Assessment