Experiment - Modelling the Greenhouse Effect

Introduction

Sunlight energy travels through space to the earth as electromagnetic radiation. Visible light is

seen by our eyes but other parts of sunlight include ultraviolet light or infrared radiation (long

wave radiation).

The temperature of the atmosphere is

affected by the ability of air molecules to

absorb this radiation. Greenhouse gases

(methane, carbon dioxide, oxides of

nitrogen) in the atmosphere absorb this

infrared radiation emitted by the earth and

keep the heat in the atmosphere, like in a

greenhouse.

The greenhouse effect is nothing new. The

problems of climate change and global

warming are caused by an enhanced

greenhouse effect, as a result of human

burning of fossil fuels.

To investigate the greenhouse effect carry out the following experiment:

Apparatus: per group

2 x 250ml glass beakers

Strong lamp (or the sun)

2 petri dishes with water

black card or paper

2 thermometers (data

logging temperature

probes work well in this

experiment)

Stopwatch.

Carbon dioxide generator,

made from 1M HCL in a

conical flask, with an

excess of bicarbonate

powder.

(see diagram)

© David Faure, InThinking www.biology-inthinking.co.uk

Experiment - Modelling the Greenhouse Effect

Method:

a) Put water into two petri dishes and put their lids on.

b) Put two beakers onto the piece of black card. Label one “Air” and the other “CO2”

c) Fill the beaker labelled “CO2”with carbon dioxide

Carbon Dioxide generator

using the carbon dioxide generator.

d) Put the petri dish on top of this beaker.

e) Carefully fit a thermometer down the beaker’s

‘spout’

f) Add a little tape to hold the petri dish in place

(optional)

g) Prepare the second beaker with normal air

(containing only about 0,03% of carbon dioxide.)

h) Add a thermometer to the second beaker.

i) Record the starting temperatures of each beaker.

j) Turn on the light

k) Record the temperature every 2 minutes for 20 minutes.

How it works?

The light are switched on emitting infra-red and light radiation.

Infrared rays (heat) are absorbed by the water in the petri dish above the beaker and does

not reach the air or the CO2 below.

The visible light emitted by the bulbs passes the water and the gases and reaches the black

card.

The card becomes warmer and emits infrared (heat) radiation.

This infrared radiation is absorbed by the pure carbon dioxide more than by the air.

Interesting Alternatives

Test other greenhouse gases. For example, methane gas from the gas taps, or exhaled air

which has high concentrations of water vapour and CO2.

© David Faure, InThinking www.biology-inthinking.co.uk

Experiment - Modelling the Greenhouse Effect

Predictions

Beaker contents: carbon dioxide Beaker contents: air

The lamp radiates energy which is absorbed by The lamp radiates energy which is absorbed

the black card. Infra-red energy is emitted by by the black card. The infrared radiation

the card. The infrared radiation emitted by the emitted by the black card passes through the

black card is absorbed by the CO2 in the beaker beaker without any significant absorption.

and causes an increase of heat in the CO2 of The increase in temperature is small.

the beaker and a large temperature rise

Conclusions:

Show a table of results and plot a graph to show the trends in the data.

Describe the patters in your results (or the sample results.)

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Do these results support the idea that greenhouse gases cause global warming?

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Explain how human an increase in atmospheric CO2 concentration can cause an enhanced

greenhouse effect.

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© David Faure, InThinking www.biology-inthinking.co.uk

Experiment - Modelling the Greenhouse Effect

Sample Results: Using bright sunlight as the radiation source.

Experiment to test the effect of greenhouse gases on heat absorption in a conical flask

Temperature of Temperature of
Temperature of air / °C

Time (mins) methane / °C ( +/- 0.5 exhaled air / °C ( +/-

°C ) 0.5 °C )

0.0 22.0 22.0 32.0

2.0 24.5 26.3 35.0

4.0 27.0 28.8 37.6

6.0 28.0 31.8 38.6

8.0 29.9 34.2 40.5

10.0 32.8 36.4 43.4

12.0 34.8 38.5 45.4

Greenhouse Effect Experiment

50.0

45.0

40.0

Temperature / °C

Temperature of air / °C ( +/- 0.5

35.0 °C )

30.0 Temperature of methane / °C (

+/- 0.5 °C )

25.0

Temperature of exhaled air / °C

( +/- 0.5 °C )
20.0

15.0

0.0 2.0 4.0 6.0 8.0 10.0 12.0

Time / minutes

© David Faure, InThinking www.biology-inthinking.co.uk