Color and Temperature

In this lesson students discover how materials of different colors absorb different amounts of heat from sunlight or other sources of heat (e.g. a lamp). Students conduct an experiment with black rocks and white rocks to see how their temperature varies after the same amount of time in the sun.

• Some materials become hotter than other materials when they are warmed by the sun. Color plays an important role in how much a certain material absorbs heat.
• Dark colors (such as black) absorb more sunlight than light colors (such as white). Light bounces off white and lighter colors more than black and darker colors.

• How does color affect the way a material feels when it is in the sun?
• Will a darker-colored object feel hotter or cooler in the sun than a lighter-colored object?
• How do scientists and engineers use their scientific knowledge of colors and temperature to design houses in hot places?

Misconception: The seasons cause weather to change.

Fact: Seasons have specific weather patterns associated with them, but they aren’t the cause of the weather. 

Engineer : a person who uses scientific knowledge to solve problems

The hands-on activity is a mini-lesson in which students discover how different colors absorb different amounts of heat from the sun. Students explore this concept by conducting an experiment to compare the temperature of how black rocks feel in the sun versus white rocks. As they document their observations in a chart, students discuss with each other the differences they noticed and come to a conclusion about how darker and lighter colors absorb more or less heat. They will also explore how scientists and engineers use this understanding to design objects and tools to help people keep cool in the heat of the sun.