Comparing Heat Transfer in Hydrosphere and Atmosphere
Name:
☺
Methods:
Form a large group (4-6 people), then divide into 2 teams. One team will measure atmosphere,
the other will measure hydrosphere. At the end of the lab exchange data to complete the
whole table. Each team will complete the following steps separately while sharing one
hot plate.
Put water into a large (400 mL) beaker until it is half full. Place this beaker on one side of the
hotplate. The other half of your group will use the other side of the same hotplate. Do not
turn on the hotplate yet.
Put a smaller (150 mL) beaker in a clamp attached to a retort stand. Lower the smaller beaker into
the larger beaker so that the water surrounds the smaller beaker. Secure the clamp so the
small beaker stays in place.
With a second clamp secure a thermometer so that it will measure the temperature of whatever is in
the smaller beaker. The tip of the thermometer should be about 1cm from the bottom of
the smaller beaker.
If you have been assigned atmosphere you will leave the small beaker empty so the thermometer
measures the temperature of the air. If you have been assigned hydrosphere put 60 mL of
water in the smaller beaker.
When both groups are ready to start record the initial temperature of the air or water. Turn on the
hotplate to level 7 and start timing.
Record the temperature every minute for a total of 10 minutes. When finished recording data turn
off hotplate and use beaker tongs to remove the beakers. Allow equipment to cool down
before putting away. Collect data from the other half of your group.
Observations:
Table 1: Temperature Changes in Atmosphere and Hydrosphere
Time (min)
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
Temperature of Atmosphere (C)
Temperature of Hydrosphere (C)
Conclusions:
1. What did you notice about the temperature of the water as time passed? How did this
compare to the temperature of the air?
2. Does water heat up slower or quicker than air? What does this say about the ability of water
and air to transfer heat?
3. From your experience does water cool down quicker or slower than air?
4. Refer to your results to explain why water is considered a “heat sink”, while air is not.
5. Create a single graph to display the data for temperature of hydrosphere and atmosphere over
time.
Remember to include a title and appropriate labels for each axis.
6. Write a statement that explains the conclusion that you can make based on your graph.