Let's create continuous conversations about climate change education: Spreading the Sediment of Science!
The Long & Short of Absorption & Transmission
Provided by: Paleontological Research Institution |Published on: April 27, 2021
Videos Grades 6-8, 9-12
Synopsis
- This short video describes how different forms of radiant energy interact with different materials and demonstrates an easy experiment that could be replicated in the classroom.
- The demonstration involves viewing one's hand with an infrared camera behind three different types of materials: glass, clear plastic and black plastic.
Subjects: Physics
Authors: Paleontological Research Institution
Region: Global
Languages: English
Teaching Materials
Positives
- A thorough verbal explanation and visual demonstration show how certain materials like glass can absorb infrared radiation, similar to how greenhouse gases also trap infrared radiation.
- The narrator describes all components of the demonstration, easily allowing a teacher to replicate this same setup in their classroom if they have access to the infrared camera technology.
Additional Prerequisites
- Students should be familiar with terms like visible light, infrared radiation, and wavelength.
- To replicate this in the classroom, you will need an infrared camera, glass, clear plastic, and black plastic.
Differentiation
- Before watching the video, consider having students record their predictions on absorption or transmission of infrared radiation and visible light for each of the three materials tested in the video.
- To dive deeper into the science of the greenhouse effect and climate change, high school students may benefit from this interactive online lesson: Heating It Up: The Chemistry of the Greenhouse Effect.
Scientist Notes
Teaching Tips
Standards
Resource Type and Format
About the Partner Provider
Paleontological Research Institution
Paleontological Research Institution (PRI) is a national leader in Earth systems science education. They strive to help make sense of the present and potential future climate change, while also increasing understanding of global change in Earth’s past. Their programs focus on systems thinking, understanding scale and learning in your own backyard.
All resources can be used for your educational purposes with proper attribution to the content provider.
