Convection: Transferring Heat Energy from the Sun Reading Passage and Lab

This educational resource is designed to introduce students to the concept of convection and how it moves heat energy from the sun to different places.

In the reading passage, students will learn about convection as a process that acts as a secret messenger, carrying heat energy from one location to another. They will explore how the sun's rays warm up the air and land, causing the warm air to rise while cool air rushes in to take its place. Through this convection dance, heat energy is transported from the sun to new areas. Students will understand how this continuous cycle creates a flow of heat energy, akin to a never-ending conveyor belt.

To further explore convection, the accompanying exploration lab invites students to observe convection in action by heating up water. With three different beakers of water at varying temperatures, students will drop food coloring and time how quickly it spreads in each beaker. By making estimates and observations, they will discover which beaker shows the fastest movement of food coloring and recognize the process of convection as the driving force behind it.

This worksheet and lab provide an exciting opportunity for students to delve into the world of convection and deepen their understanding of heat transfer from the sun.

With hands-on exploration and engaging content, students will grasp the concept of convection while developing essential scientific skills such as observation, estimation, and data analysis.

For more labs, reading passages, videos, and worksheets visit EducationalResource.org.