ScienceSource.ca Dry Lab Activity

Unit C - Chapter 7

Investigating Science 10

Inquiry Activity

Sunny Rays and Angles

Skills Reference 2

Skills you Will Use

  • Using appropriate equipment and tools
  • Drawing conclusions

Safety

  • Hot Materials
  • Sharp Objects

Caution

Use caution when working around bulb, it will be very hot when turned on. Protect your hand with gloves when necessary. Be careful when using sharp scissors.

In the ray model of light, light is represented as straight lines called rays. These light rays carry and transfer energy, which is why light rays from the Sun warm the Earth and surfaces of objects on Earth. The amount of energy transferred and warming depends on the angle at which light rays strike objects or the Earth.


Question

How do light rays transfer energy to objects when striking them at different angles?


Materials and Equipment

  • scissors
  • incandescent lamp
  • transparent tape
  • protractor
  • black construction paper
  • ruler
  • 3 lab thermometers
  • optional: substitute 3 temperature probes and a computer and data recording software for the 3 laboratory thermometers

Dry Lab

A "dry lab" activity includes collected data for your convenience. If you wish to perform this lab and collect your own data, use the following procedure.


Procedure

Please watch the following video for procedure steps 1 through 9. The procedure is also provided in text in the downloads at the bottom of this page.



Analyzing and Interpreting

  1. Observe the following sample data table and graph from this activity.





  2. What does the data indicate regarding the transfer of heat energy from light rays at different angles?

Forming Conclusions

  1. Why does the angle of incidence of light rays affect the transfer of heat energy to a surface? Draw diagrams of light rays striking surfaces at different angles to support your answer.
  2. The Earth's axis is tilted, meaning that light rays strike the Earth's surface at different angles. How does this affect the temperatures at the surface of the Earth as you move from the equator, moving north?