Hands-on-science:

Science World, April 16, 2007

After reading "Life on the Edge" (p.8), try this activity to learn how a loss of sea ice could affect the world's oceans.

PREDICT

Is there a significant difference between the amount of heat energy absorbed by white paper versus that absorbed by black paper?

MATERIALS

notebook paper * pencil * 2 thermometers * sheet of black construction paper * sheet of white construction paper * stapler * sunny windowsill, or a light with a 100-watt bulb * clock or watch

DIRECTIONS

1 On a sheet of notebook paper, record the temperature that appears on one of the thermometers.

2 Create a thermometer pocket: Place one thermometer on a piece of black construction paper. Fold the paper in half over the thermometer. Staple the sides of the construction paper so that the paper stays flat against the thermometer.

3 Repeat Steps 1 and 2 with the sheet of white construction paper and the second thermometer.

4 Place the construction-paper pockets, with their thermometers tucked inside, on a sunny windowsill. If the sun isn't shining, place them directly under a light with a 100-watt light bulb.

5 Allow the thermometer pockets to rest undisturbed for approximately 10 minutes.

6 After roughly 10 minutes, remove the thermometers and record their temperatures.

CONCLUSIONS

1. Which thermometer had a greater change in temperature: the one inside the black construction paper, or the one inside the white paper?

2. Of the two construction-paper pockets, which one absorbed the most heat energy from the light source? Which one reflected the most heat energy?

3. Which color paper best simulates an ice-covered ocean? Which simulates an ice-free ocean? Why?

4. Based on your observations, how Would melting sea ice affect the amount of heat energy absorbed by Earth's oceans? Explain.

Answers

1. The thermometer tucked inside the black construction paper had a greater change in temperature.

2. Of the two construction-paper pockets, the black one absorbed more heat energy from the light source The white one reflected the most heat energy.

3. The white paper best simulates an ice covered ocean That's because ice is lighter in appearance than the ocean. The black paper best simulates the darker, ice free ocean.

4. As the melting of ice increases, Earth's oceans will absorb a larger amount of heat energy. That's because ice helps reflect heat energy. With less ice covering the oceans, more heat energy will be absorbed by the oceans