greenhouse in a jar

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Greenhouse Effect in a Jar

organisation

West Wales Eco Centre
(INFORSE-member)

www.ecocentre.org.uk (not available anymore)

westwales@ecocentre.org.uk

age group

9+ years old

Topic

The Greenhouse Effect

Goal

To develop understanding of the natural greenhouse effect

Resources

For each group:
1 jar
2 thermometers - to fit the jar
Stop watch / watch / clock
Sunlight / sunlamp
Recording sheet:

time	thermometer in jar	thermometer 2
start temperature
after 1 minute
after 2 minutes
after 3 minutes
after 4 minutes
after 5 minutes
after 6 minutes
after 7 minutes
after 8 minutes
after 9 minutes
after 10 minutes

Task

put the 2 thermometers in sunlight or under the lamp for a few minutes
record the time and the start temperature
place the jar over one of the thermometers
every minute record the temperature, without touching any of the equipment

Description and Evaluation

The greenhouse effect is a natural phenomenon that enables the Earth to support life. Without the greenhouse effect the Earth would be about minus18°Celcius. Greenhouse gases in the atmosphere act like the glass of the jar. Radiation from the sun travels through the glass / greenhouse gases to the Earth's surface and is then re-radiated as heat. The heat cannot escape so the the jar / Earth warms up.

The enhaced greenhouse effect is due to an increase in the amount of greenhouse gases so the Earth is trapping too much heat so we have global warming.