The Greenhouse Effect Phet Simulation Lesson

Earth Sciene 11 Name______Mr. Matty 2014 Date ______

7.1b Activity - The Greenhouse Effect

Discussion: There are factors that may influence weather patterns and climate and their effects within ecosystems (for example: elevation, proximity to oceans, prevailing winds, fossil fuel burning, volcanic eruptions). You will be looking at the effects on our atmosphere that can occur due to some of these factors.

Learning Goals: Students will analyze how Greenhouse Gases affect Earth’s temperature and identify processes that might increase or decrease Earth’s temperature.

Go to: http://phet.colorado.edu/new/simulations/index.php

Click on “earth science”; Click on “The Greenhouse Effect” When the program asks how you would like to get to Earth, choose the Fly Me in Option.

Ice Age:

1. Click on the “Ice Age” button and record the minimum temperature. ______

2. Record: CO2 _____ 3. What happens to the sunlight photons as they hit the ground? ______

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4. Are all of the sunlight photons being reflected back into space? ______

5. What happens to the temperature when you add clouds? ______

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6. How are the photons affected by adding clouds? ______

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7. Click on the “1750” button and record the minimum temperature. ______

8. Record: CO2 _____ CH4 _____ N2O _____

9. What happens to the sunlight photons as they hit the ground? ______

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10. What happens to the temperature when you add clouds? ______11. How are the photons affected by adding clouds? ______

Present: 12. Click on the “Present” button and record the minimum temperature. ______

13. Record the CO2 _____ CH4 _____ N2O _____

14. What happens to the sunlight photons as they hit the ground? ______

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15. What happens to the temperature when you add clouds? ______

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16. How are the photons affected by adding clouds? ______

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Turn to your neighbor and describe how the Greenhouse Gases affected Earth’s atmosphere during the Ice Age, the year 1750 and Present.

What would happen if there were no Greenhouse gases? (Adjust the Greenhouse Gas Concentration Level to None.)

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What would happen if Greenhouse gases increase? (Adjust the Greenhouse Gas Concentration Level to Lots)

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Identify some natural or human processes that might increase or decrease the amount of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere.

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