Lab: Energy Absorption/Reflection Student Guide and Lab Instructions
In this laboratory exercise, you will design an experiment to test the ability of certain materials to absorb or reflect
sunlight.
Lesson Objectives
• Design an experiment to test your prediction.
• Explain how air temperature, air pressure, air density, and Earth's rotation interact to produce air circulations locally and globally.
• Explain how the absorption or reflection of sunlight may affect natural settings.
• Predict that different materials will absorb or reflect sunlight.
• Describe the consequences of the heat energy that is taken up by the atmosphere and what the atmosphere does with it.
• Explain how heat energy is transferred from the sun to Earth and the atmosphere.
PREPARE
Approximate lesson time is 60 minutes.
Materials
For the Student
• Laboratory Guidelines
Keywords and Pronunciation
specific heat: the energy, in calories, required to raise the temperature of one gram of a substance one degree
Celsius
LEARN
Activity 1: Energy Absorption/Reflection 1 (Online)
Activity 2: Energy Absorption/Reflection (Online)
Instructions
Introduction
Follow the Procedure below. As you complete the lab, take notes about the lab so you can participate in the discussion. In this laboratory exercise, you will design an experiment to test how different materials reflect or absorb light.
Procedure
Part 1: Formulate a Hypothesis
1. Keep these questions in mind as you develop your hypothesis:

• Do some colors absorb more light than others?
• Do some materials absorb or reflect more light than others?
• How could you indirectly measure the amount of sunlight absorbed by an object?
2. Write a hypothesis, in if...then format.
Part 2: Design an Experiment
3. Design an experiment that tests the absorption and reflection of different materials.
4. Create a list of materials and a procedure to test your hypothesis.
5. Record your idea in your lab report for discussion. Note that you do not need to perform the experiment.
When you have finished, you will discuss with your classmates through a threaded discussion board. Print the Grading Rubric for the Threaded Discussion Board Activity and review the contents. Your teacher will use this rubric to grade your participation in this discussion.
ASSESS
Discussion: Energy Absorption/Reflection 1 (Online)
Read the discussion prompt and carefully write your response. Remember:
What you type here is public. A good rule of thumb is to only post things here that you would be
comfortable communicating in person.
Responses should be well written (use a spell-checker) and clearly address the issue being discussed. You
may wish to write your response in a word processing program, and then copy and paste it into the topic
response box.
Your teacher will review postings regularly. Any postings containing foul language or inappropriate topics
will be removed, and the posting student will be referred to the administration. If you are in doubt about
whether something is appropriate to post, either ask your teacher first, or just don’t post it.
Review the Grading Rubric for Discussion Board Activity. Your teacher will use this rubric to grade your
participation in this discussion. Be sure to contact your teacher if you have any questions.