Temperature Measuring
Exercise
Pat Higby
Brice Jensen
Raytek Minitemp
MT6
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Temperature range: -30º
to 500ºC (-20º to 932ºF),
Distance to spot size: 10:1
calculated @ 80% energy
Instant current and max.
readings
Large, easy to read display
Single dot laser sighting
system
Durable and compact
design, power by a 9V
Alkaline battery (included)
What investigateable question could your
students explore with this activity?
Which material will have the maximum
temperature difference?
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◦
◦
◦
◦
Grass
Brick
Metal
Concrete
Rubber
What will be the maximum temperature
difference?
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◦
◦
◦
◦
◦
0-5 F
5-15 F
15-25 F
25-35 F
35-45 F
+45 F
Sun
Shade
Diff
CEEE Atrium Floor
82.0 F
73.5 F
8.5 F
Sun
Shade
Diff
CEEE Atrium Brick Wall
88.5 F
79.0 F
9.5 F
Sun
Shade
Diff
CEEE Brick Wall Outside
120.0 F
87.5 F
32.5 F
Sun
Shade
Diff
CEEE Grass
86.0 F
70.5 F
15.5 F
Sun
Shade
Diff
105.5 F
93.0 F
12.5 F
Industrial Tech Building - Metal
Sun
Shade
Diff
Tree Shade on Grass
91.5 F
69.5 F
22.0 F
Sun
Shade
Diff
Car Tires
124.5 F
83.0 F
41.5 F
Sun
Shade
Diff
Tunnel Walkway
75.5 F
67.5 F
8.0 F
Sun
Shade
Diff
Latham Hall Brick Wall
101.5 F
78.0 F
23.5 F
Sun
Shade
Diff
MSH Building Side
91.0 F
75.0 F
16.0 F
Predict which material will have the
maximum temperature difference.
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◦
◦
◦
◦
Grass
Brick
Metal
Concrete
Rubber
41.5 F!
Predict how much the maximum
temperature difference will be.
◦
◦
◦
◦
◦
◦
0-5 F
5-15 F
15-25 F
25-35 F
35-45 F
+45 F
41.5 F!
Elaboration or Expansion
What other science concepts could be
explored related to this activity?
Albedo of Sea Ice and Ocean
• Albedo is a measure of the relative reflection
of sunlight off of earth’s surface.
• Its value varies between 0 and 1, where 0 is
a black surface – the perfect absorber of light,
and 1 is a white surface – the perfect reflector
of light.
• As the accompanying figure shows, the open
ocean is dark, and typically has an albedo of
0.06 – reflecting only 6% of sunlight striking
it.
• Bare ice, with an albedo of 0.5 reflects 50%
of incident sunlight.
•If the ice has a snow cover [Arctic Ocean in
winter], the albedo can be as high as 0.9,
reflecting 90% of incident sunlight.
Juxtaposition of Two Surfaces with Very
Different Albedos
Global Warming is Causing Sea Ice to Melt
Earlier in Spring and Freeze Later in Fall
• There is more time during the summer for the
compounding cycle of melting ice, lowering albedo,
trapping of more solar energy, and more ice to melt.
•T his process of a little warming causing more
warming is called the ice-albedo feedback.
Feedback Diagram for Arctic Sea Ice
Melting
Global
Warming
Sea Ice
Extent
Solar
Absorption
Solar
Absorption
Sea Ice
Extent
Feedback Diagram for Arctic Sea Ice
Melting
Global
Warming
Sea Ice
Extent
Solar
Absorption
Solar
Absorption
Sea Ice
Extent
Positive Reinforcing Feedback Loop
(loop keeps cycling in clockwise direction)
Causing Cascading of Ever Decreasing Sea
Ice Extent