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Hands-on Activity

You're Getting Warmer...

Fun Forces
Summary
In this activity, students investigate the effect that a material can have on the absorption of solar energy. Students create model houses and place different materials on the roof. They then measure the effects of these materials on the temperature inside the house.
Overview
Topic: Solar Energy
Real World Science Topics:
  • An exploration of how different materials absorb sunlight differently.
  • An exploration of how sunlight can be used to heat a house.
  • An exploration of the effects of construction materials on home energy efficiency.
Objective
Students will gain an understanding of performing a controlled experiment and how properties of materials can affect the amount of sunlight they absorb.

Activity Difficulty Rating: 2 Each hands-on science activity has been ranked based on difficulty of set up and how difficult they are to perform. The rating scale is from 1 to 5, with 1 being the easiest and 5 being the most complicated.