HEAT SPECTRUMAlyson Hurlock

Grade 9

Problem

How does the color of an object affect the amount of radiant energy absorbed?

Research• Energy- measured in joules (SI units). Defined as the ability to

create change.• Radiant energy is transmitted as a wave. It can be found in the

electromagnetic spectrum.• It is measured by the emission of electrons.

• Photon- Under the photon theory of light, is a quantum, a discrete bundle, of electromagnetic energy. Photons travel at 3 x 108 m/s.

• Electron- a subtonic particle that is a fundamental constituent of matter.

• Electronic energy- the energy of many trillions of photons when sunlit hits a surface.

• Infrared photons- the form of energy re-emitted from the electrons as they return to the energy level they were at before they absorbed protons.

• Infrared proton- the emission of energy.

Hypothesis

If the infrared temperature of each color is taken, then the darker colors such as black and blue will absorb more radiant energy than lighter colors such as red, yellow, and white.

Materials• Scissors• Colored Construction Paper

• White, Yellow, Red, Blue, and Black

• Styrofoam plates• Infrared thermometer

Procedure 1. Cut out a 10 centimeter construction paper square of each of the following colors: white, yellow, blue, red, and black.

2. Placed the squares in a location where they were in the sunlight, not touching each other.

a. Placed the squares on a white surface.

b. There were not any shadows over the paper.

c. The squares were protected from any breezes.

3. Made a note of the time and date in lab notebook.

4. Waited for 5 minutes so that the temperatures of the squares become stable.

5. Took the temperature of each square with the infrared thermometer, five times over a time period of about 5 minutes.

6. Recorded the data in a data table in lab notebook.

7. Averaged the results for each colored square.

Variables• Independent: color papers• Dependent: infrared temperature• Control: white paper• Constants: size of papers, time of day, and location

Data

Black Blue Red Yellow White15.5

16

16.5

17

17.5

18

18.5

19

Infrared Temperatures

Color

Deg

rees

Cel

siu

s

Conclusion•If the infrared temperature of each color is taken, then the darker colors such as black and blue will absorb more radiant energy than lighter colors such as red, yellow, and white.•The hypothesis was supported.•Possible errors are the Styrofoam could have absorbed heat. The glass could have filtered some of the light.•Possible ways to further improve this experiment are to test secondary colors, different mediums.

Bibliography• Dictionary.com. “Energy” < http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/energy> October 25, 2011.•  • Dictionary.com. “Radiant Energy” <http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/radiant+energy> October 25, 2011•  • Dictionary.com. “Electrons” < http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/electrons> October 25, 2011.•  • Dictionary.com. “Energy Level” < http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/energy+level> October 25, 2011.•  • Dictionary.com. “Electron Volt” < http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/electron+volt> October 25, 2011.•  • Dictionary.com. “Ground State” < http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/ground%20state?fromAsk=true&o=100074> October 25, 2011.•  • Dictionary.com. “Wavelength” < http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/wavelength> October 25, 2011.•  • Dictionary.com. “Electromagnetic Spectrum” < http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/electromagnetic+spectrum> October 25, 2011.•  • Dictionary.com. “Absolute Zero” < http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/absolute+zero> October 25, 2011.•  • Dictionary.com. “Blackbody radiation” < http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/blackbody+radiation> October 25, 2011.•  • Dictionary.com. “Watt” < http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/watt> October 25, 2011.•  • Dictionary.com. “Joule” < http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/joule> October 25, 2011.•  • Jones, Andrew Zimmerman. “Photon” <http://physics.about.com/od/lightoptics/f/photon.htm> September 25,2011.•  • Jones, Andrew Zimmerman. “Power” <http://physics.about.com/od/glossary/g/power.htm> September 25, 2011.•  • Whyte, David B. “Absorption of Radiant Energy by Different Colors”

<http://www.sciencebuddies.org/science-fair-projects/project_ideas/Phys_p073.shtml?fave=no&isb=c2lkOjEsaWE6UGh5cyxwOjUscmlkOjExMjc3NDU0&from=TSW> October 25, 2011.