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Activity: Identifying Light Energy by Temperature
Changes
Days Needed 1
Grade level 9 - 12
Objectives
Students will determine the amount of heat energy (infrared light)
released
from a burning peanut. The students will relate this experiment to a
microcalorimeter. |
Science and Math Standards
| NCTM |
NSES |
Content Standard 2:
- Mathematics as Communication |
Content Standard A:
- Abilities necessary to do scientific inquiry
- Understandings about scientific inquiry |
Content Standard 4:
- Mathematical Connections.
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Content Standard B:
- Structure of Atoms
- Interactions of energy and matter |
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Content Standard F:
- Science and Technology |
Prerequisites
Science Students should understand that light is a form
of energy, and the basics of the electromagnetic spectrum. Students should
understand what a spectrum is.
Math Students should be able to take measurements and use
equations to calculate values.
Introduction
Students will explore hands-on how light energy can cause a change in
temperature (in this case, in a flask of water). Students will relate
what they find in this activity to how a microcalorimeter works to produce a
spectrum of light from an incoming source. The microcalorimeter
functions as energy dispersive x-ray detectors. This device picks up the
energies of individual x-ray photons. The microcalorimeter is a sensitive
thermometer that precisely measures the temperature variations due to the
absorption of individual photons. Because it can measure very tiny
temperature changes, this device will allow for the collection of
spectra with extremely high-energy resolution, which will allow the
measurement of chemical shifts due to different chemical bonding states,
and the precise identification of incident photons. |
Exploration
Materials
- paper clip
- peanut
- small aluminum pan
- flask
- ring stand and clamp,
- aluminum can with both ends open
- thermometer
Print out the Student Worksheet for the class. Have them do the activity -
the teacher should have a class discussion to go over the answers to the
"Answer This" question.
Student Worksheet
Evaluation
Formative assessment and observation should be evident throughout the
lesson. The worksheet, final questions during closure or a future quiz may
serve as summative assessment.
Closure
Ask students to take three minutes to write what they have found in this
experiment, and to relate this knowledge to how a microcalorimeter works.
What would limit the microcalorimeter's ability to produce a superior
spectrum? What characteristics of a microcalorimeter make it an advance in
spectrometer technology?
Back to the Main Spectra Unit Menu
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