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Student Activity - How the Sun heats the Earth
Activity idea
This activity was adapted from SEREAD in collaboration with NIWA.
Why is it that Antarctica is so cold and yet Hawaii is warm? This activity should help students to understand why the Sun’s heat affects the Earth differently depending on location (distance from the equator).
What you will need:
- large ball (around 20 cm diameter) or alternatively a balloon
- permanent marker
- can of spray paint (contrasting colour to ball or balloon)
Instructions:
- Draw a line around the ball with permanent marker. This line represents the equator.
- Hold the spray can around 20 cm from the ball (see figure below).
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Direct spray at the equator line, spraying just enough to cover this area.
- Measure how far the paint has spread.
- Get students to predict what will happen if the spray can is moved to above or below the equator.
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Spray the ball again from the same distance for the same length of time but this time aim the nozzle at a lower (or higher) plane. This may be better if using a contrasting spray paint colour.
- Again measure how the paint spreads.
Thought questions and discussion
- Why is there a difference in the area that the paint covers?
- Can you compare the colour to the distribution of heat from the sun?
- How do you think this shows how much heat the earth receives from the sun?
- Why do you think it is warmer around the equator than further south towards the polar regions?
- Which areas of the planet would have the warmest seas?
- What difference do you think this would make to the amount of water that would be evaporated from the surface of the sea?
- Which parts of the planet do you think would have the highest rainfall and the highest temperatures?
