Improving the environment
QCA Unit 8

Activities for home - Living in a Greenhouse

Carbon dioxide and other gases given off by motor vehicles, power stations and factories are collecting high in the sky. They are forming an 'invisible greenhouse' around the Earth. If this goes on, world average temperatures could rise by 4°C sometime this century. If this happens, the ice-sheets at the North and South Poles will begin to melt.

What effect does a greenhouse have on the temperature? Do this experiment to find out.

You will need...

1. 2 thermometers

2. A large clear glass or plastic jar

Try this...

1. On a sunny day lay the two thermometers side by side on the same kind of surface outdoors. Leave the thermometers for two or three minutes and then write down the temperature shown by each of them.
   
   

   Temperature after 2/3 minutes:
   Thermometer 1
   Thermometer 2

2. Cover one of the thermometers with the large jar. This is your greenhouse.

3. Read the temperatures shown by the two thermometers after 30 minutes and again after one hour.
   
   

   Temperature after 30 minutes:
   Thermometer 1
   Thermometer 2

   
   

   Temperature after 1 hour:
   Thermometer 1
   Thermometer 2

What difference in temperature, if any, is there?

Scientists call the way in which gases high in the sky are affecting the Earth's temperature, the 'greenhouse effect'. What can we do to slow down or stop the greenhouse effect? Write your ideas in your workbook.