Hydrosphere: Specific Heat - Climate Control

The fact that water moderates the climate is an important fundamental concept. Students will investigate the specific heat capacity of water and sand to understand the role of water in climate control.

Climate Control Graph

Graph showing the heating and cooling curves of water and sand. Students always hear "land heats up faster than water". In this lab they experience the phenomenon and see clearly in the data the difference in specific heat of water versus specific heat of sand.

Lab Summary:

The hydrogen bonds present between water molecules are responsible for the many peculiarities of the behavior of water. The specific heat capacity is yet another of these properties. Specific heat capacity is the amount of energy required to raise 1 gram of a substance 1 degree Kelvin.

In this activity, students will use temperature sensors to investigate the rates of heating and cooling for water and sand. These will represent a model of the ocean and land.

Then students will experimentally determine the specific heat capacity of both water and soil. Students will apply their understanding of the differences between the heat capacities of water and land to explain the local effects of water on the temperatures of coastal regions.

Download free labs:

(student versions)

Computer-based lab (PDF, 634 KB)

Xplorer GLX-based lab (PDF, 72 KB)

Climate Control Graph

Students heat the water and observe the change in temperature of the sand in the test tube. They then can calculate the specific heat of the sand.

Method:

Use a Temperature Sensor to investigate the rates of heating and cooling in water and sand, and determine the specific heat capacity of sand.

Here's What You Need:

Required for Xplorer GLX-based lab:

(See lab download for computer-based lab requirements, which may differ)

Probeware

Other Materials

Lab Manual:

The computer-based activity is included in Explorations in Earth and Environmental Science (PS-2809). The Xplorer GLX-based lab is included in Earth and Environmental Science with the Xplorer GLX (PS-2821A). Both manuals are complete with Teacher Information pages, student instructions and handouts, and sample data.

For your convenience, we offer bundles which provide the probeware for the activities in the manual. For more, please see:
Computer-based Earth and Environmental Science Lab Manual and Bundles
Xplorer GLX-based Earth and Environmental Science Lab Manual and Bundles