Classroom Resources: Energy & Thermodynamics
1 – 19 of 19 Classroom Resources
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Radiation, Electromagnetic Spectrum, Heat, Temperature, Experimental design, Graphing, Interdisciplinary | Middle School, High School
Lesson Plan: The Ozone Layer
In this lesson, students will develop an explanation for the consequences of ozone depletion on Earth by planning and carrying out an investigation. Students will use analysis and interpretation of data to develop a model to explain the cause and effect of Ozone depletion on the planet Earth.
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Elements, Identifying an Unknown, Atomic Spectra, Emission Spectrum, Electromagnetic Spectrum, Emission Spectrum | Middle School, Elementary School
Lesson Plan: Elements Are Out of This World
In this lesson, students will learn about the elements that make up Earth’s atmosphere and lithosphere and then compare and contrast the information with the elements that compose various other astronomical objects.
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Electromagnetic Spectrum, Atomic Spectra, Electrons, Identifying an Unknown | High School
Lab: The Case of the Contaminated Well
In this lab, students will observe the colors produced when different metal salt solutions are heated in a flame. Students will take on the role of a forensic investigator and use their results to help them determine if collected evidence was contaminated.
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Electromagnetic Spectrum, Atomic Spectra, Electrons | High School
Lab: Mystical Fire Investigation
In this lab, students will create several testable questions based upon their observations of a mystical fire. Students then direct their own laboratory experience as they safely investigate these testable questions through the use of multiple flame tests.
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Electromagnetic Spectrum, Atomic Spectra, Electrons | High School
Demonstration: Flame Test (Rainbow Demo)
In this demonstration, students will observe the variety of colors produced when different metals or metallic salts are heated in a flame.
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Electromagnetic Spectrum, Identifying an Unknown | Middle School, High School
Video: Color Matching Paint Video
This video explains how technology, specifically focusing on spectrophotometry, can be used for paint matching. Students will learn how the spectrophotometer interacts with the spectrum of visible light in order to match or reproduce specific paint colors.
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Electromagnetic Spectrum, Emission Spectrum | Middle School
Lesson Plan: Understanding Light & Color
In this lesson students use spectroscopes to analyze the colors of sunlight reflected off a white surface, and determine various colors of light emitted by a multicolor LED bulb at different color settings. They predict what color an object will appear when observed under a certain color of light, and test their predictions with the LED bulb. Students explore how a color wheel can provide a useful model for determining the colors of light an object may absorb or reflect. Finally, students will investigate the color yellow. Many objects that appear yellow are not reflecting yellow light, but reflecting green and red. Students use their spectroscopes to search for objects that truly reflect yellow light.
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Concentration, Beer's Law, Electromagnetic Spectrum | High School
Lesson Plan: Using Color to Identify an Unknown
In this lesson students will utilize spectrophotometry to identify the wavelength of maximum absorbance for a food dye. They will also generate a Beer's Law Standard Curve, and utilize their skills to identify the different dyes and their concentrations in an unknown mixture. The lesson culminates with an extension to utilizing a similar method in color matching paint.
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Electromagnetic Spectrum, Emission Spectrum, Emission Spectrum, Electrons | Middle School, High School
Lesson Plan: Let it Glow
In this lesson students will investigate the fluorescence of a variety of everyday items as well as prepared samples under a black light. Students will examine the concepts of absorption and subsequent emission of photons, as well as wavelength, frequency, and energy of electromagnetic radiation. As extension activities, students will learn about phosphorescence and research real-life applications of photoluminescence.
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Electromagnetic Spectrum, Redox Reaction, Molecular Structure, Law of Conservation of Energy, Half Reactions, Oxidation Number, Oxidation, Reduction, Intermolecular Forces | High School
Lesson Plan: Fading Away
In this lesson students will explore photodegradation of color. First, students will view how fading of paint has affected Van Gogh’s great works of art and the efforts that are being taken to conserve these works. While exploring, students will actively engage in research to relate the fading process to redox reactions, X-Ray diffraction, solute-solvent interactions, and light/energy calculations. Students will then act as an Engineering Task Force and brainstorm to identify how photodegradation affects modern day objects and plan how to address their fading in an effort to market to the airliner Jetstar
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Mixtures, Solute & Solvent, Intermolecular Forces, Intermolecular Forces, Molecular Formula, Molecular Structure, Polymers, Electromagnetic Spectrum | Middle School, High School
Video: What is Paint? Video
This video investigates the composition of paint, while analyzing the fundamental chemistry principles of its main components. Students will learn about the differences between three common paint types, water colors, oil-based and acrylic paint as well as the chemistry of each.
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Electromagnetic Spectrum, Molecular Structure, Mixtures | Middle School, High School
Video: What are Pigments? Video
This video discusses the chemistry of pigment molecules and how they are used to give paints their specific color. Students will learn about the importance of a pigment’s molecular structure, how they are physically suspended to create a paint color, as well as how they interact with light.
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Electromagnetic Spectrum | High School
Activity: Electromagnetic Spectrum Book
In this activity, students will create a book that describes all of the individual parts that make up the electromagnetic spectrum.
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Atomic Spectra, Emission Spectrum, Emission Spectrum, Electromagnetic Spectrum, Interdisciplinary, Identifying an Unknown | Middle School, High School
Lab: Spectral Detective
In this lab, students will use a spectroscope to view the atomic spectra of various unknown elements. Using their collected data in combination with known atomic spectra, they will identify the chemical elements.
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Radiation, Electromagnetic Spectrum, Radiation | Middle School, High School
Lab: The Most Effective Sunscreen
In this lab, students will research and compare the effectiveness of various SPF levels in sunscreen lotions. The lotion’s ability to block UV (ultraviolet) radiation from the sun will be tested using a UV bead detector.
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Emission Spectrum, Electromagnetic Spectrum | High School
Demonstration: The Emission Spectrum from a Candle Flame
In this demo, students look at a candle flame through a diffraction grating to see the emission spectrum of the flame. This provides for an opportunity to talk about how a flame works and prove that carbon is being released by charring a porcelin crucible.
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Atomic Spectra, Activity Series, Emission Spectrum, Ions, Electromagnetic Spectrum, Emission Spectrum | High School
Lab: Flame Test: Going Further
In this lab, students will investigate the colors produced when several mixtures of metallic ions are placed in a flame.
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Separating Mixtures, Interdisciplinary, Separating Mixtures, Electromagnetic Spectrum, Mixture | Middle School
Lab: Candy and Leaf Chromatography
In this lab, students will learn that mixtures are created by the combination of two or more substances. Many colors are actually mixtures of several different pigments. Mixtures can be separated, and in this lab students will perform chromatography to separate mixtures found in candy and in leaves.
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Atomic Spectra, Emission Spectrum, Emission Spectrum, Electromagnetic Spectrum, Interdisciplinary, Identifying an Unknown | Middle School, High School
Lab: Build a Spectroscope
In this lab, the students will make and use a spectroscope to identify the spectra within various types of light bulbs. The students will then develop an improved design for the spectroscope.