Topographic Conditions and Climate
The difference in the specific heat of landmasses and seawater causes differences between the climate of coastal areas and inland areas, even when they are located at the same latitude.
This simple activity investigates these differences.
Theory
Specific heat expresses how the temperature of a unit mass of a substance changes when a quantity of heat is applied. The greater the specific heat of a substance is, the smaller is its change in temperature. The expression for this change in temperature is shown below.
The table shows the specific heat values for a number of common substances.
T = | Q |
|
|
| |||
mc |
|
|
|
| |||
T(°C) | : Change in Temperature of Substance | ||||||
Q(J) | : Heat Quantity Applied to Substance | ||||||
m(g) | : Mass of Substance | ||||||
c(J/g °C) | : Specific Heat of Substance | ||||||
T(°C) | : Measured Temperature | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
| Substance | c(J/g°C) | T(°C) |
| |||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Water |
|
| 4.2 | 15 |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Ice |
|
| 2.1 | 0 |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
| Seawater | 3.9 | 20 |
| |||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Rock |
|
| 0.8 | 20 |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Wood |
|
| 1.2 | 20 |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
The above indicates that seawater is difficult both to heat and cool, while landmasses are easy to heat and cool. The result is that there tends to be less fluctuation between heat and cold in marine climates, and greater fluctuation further inland. It should be noted, however, that there are many different variations in actual climates, due to ocean currents, air currents, topography, wind patterns, and other factors. This activity investigates changes in the temperature of common everyday substances as they absorb heat from sunlight. It also compares the tendency to change temperature with measured values.
English
Activity:tivity: SetupSetup
Equipment
500ml Clear Plastic Bottles (3) | Dry Earth (or Sand) | Seawater (or Water) |
Styrofoam Boards | Rain Cover |
|
Temperature Measurement Setup
uRemove the label from the plastic bottle, wash it out, and let it dry.
uPierce the center of each of the Styrofoam boards with a temperature probe, attach the board/probe assembly to a bottle cap, and then seal the bottle.
1Plastic Bottle
2Bottle Cap
3Styrofoam Board 5cm ⋅ 5cm ⋅ 1cm
4Temperature Probe
5Hole Diameter: 6mm
Setting Up
uWeigh the empty bottle and the other two bottles to determine the mass of the substance inside each.
uLocate the bottles in an area that is constantly exposed to sunlight.
1Styrofoam Board
2Air
3Seawater
4Earth
5Temperature Probe
6Rain Cover
7
20020601