Equator Lab
-What is the major source of thermal energy on Earth?
Independent variable- angle of the card stock.
Dependent variable- brightness of the beam of light (which one is more concentrated).
Hypothesis- If the angle of the cardstock is closer to 90° from vertical, then the brightness of the beam of light will be less concentrated.
Independent variable- angle of the card stock.
Dependent variable- brightness of the beam of light (which one is more concentrated).
Hypothesis- If the angle of the cardstock is closer to 90° from vertical, then the brightness of the beam of light will be less concentrated.
Observations on 90°- The light on the cardstock was focused and bright
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Observations on 45°- The light on the cardstock was less bright and less focused.
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1. Compare the brightness of the light shining on the vertical cardstock versus on the angled cardstock
Vertical- concentrated
Angled- less concentrated
2. If the vertical cardstock represent how the sun shines on the equator, and the angled cardstock represents how the sun shines on the rest of the earth, what does this model demonstrate about the distribution of thermal energy from the sun on earth? Equator gets a certain amount of energy, more concentrated than the northern hemisphere and the southern hemisphere. The earth is unequally heated by the sun.
3. What part of earth receives the greatest amount of thermal energy? the least? The Equator; the poles
Vertical- concentrated
Angled- less concentrated
2. If the vertical cardstock represent how the sun shines on the equator, and the angled cardstock represents how the sun shines on the rest of the earth, what does this model demonstrate about the distribution of thermal energy from the sun on earth? Equator gets a certain amount of energy, more concentrated than the northern hemisphere and the southern hemisphere. The earth is unequally heated by the sun.
3. What part of earth receives the greatest amount of thermal energy? the least? The Equator; the poles