Too Cool For School

Greenhouse Lab

Today you will use a model of a greenhouse to answer the following question:

How does the air temperature in an open container compare to that of a closed container with air, and a closed container with CO2, all of which are exposed to direct light from the sun?

Procedure:• Set three greenhouse models equal distances from a light

source.• Placing digital thermometers inside the containers you will

record the temperature every minute for 10 minutes.

Materials•CO2 generator (flask, rubber stopper with glass

straws, and rubber tubing)

•Thermometers

•Greenhouse models

•Safety glasses

•Beaker

•Vinegar

•Baking soda

•Metal spoon

•Syringe

•Worksheet

•Popsicle sticks and rubber band

Make CO2 Generator

Use the metal spoon to fill the bottom of the flask with baking soda. Then place the rubber stopper securely on the flask.

CO2 Generator

Pour some vinegar into the beaker. Use the syringe to extract vinegar from the beaker by pulling back on the plunger.

Place the syringe inside the small rubber tubing and put the long rubber tubing inside the bottom hole of the greenhouse that will be the CO2

model. Slowing add 3 syringes of vinegar to the CO2 generator. Remove the rubber tubing and place tape over both holes.

Greenhouse LabPlace digital thermometers inside all 3 models. Record the starting

temperature in the correct column on the worksheet.

Place all three containers near a light source and turn it on.

Recording Temperature

Record temperature data of each thermometer every minute.

Make sure you are using the same scale on each

thermometer. (Fahrenheit or Celsius). Be sure to record the

same thermometer’s temperature first.

Record data for a period of 10 minutes, recording the temperature every

minute.

TimeIn Minutes

Temperature (oC) of Open Container with Air

Temperature (oC) of Closed Container with Air

Temperature (oC) of Closed Container with Carbon

Dioxide

0

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

Total Change in Temperature from 0 to 10 Minutes

When you have finished with this activity, clean up your

materials and return them to where you found them.