Air Temperature
Recommended for grades 6–12.
Introduction
An important factor in our weather is the difference in temperature of the air. A good example of this relationship is the production of land and sea breezes along the coast of an ocean. These winds occur because of the difference between the temperature of the air above ocean compared to the air above the land. Another example comes from understanding the formation of some clouds. The air next to different patches of ground heats up differently. Air next to hot land surfaces becomes warmer, which causes it to rise, expand and cool to form cumulus clouds. In this experiment you will investigate local changes in air temperature over a 23 hour period. You will do this with two temperature probes-one near the ground and the other one meter above the ground.
Objectives
In this experiment, you will
- Use Temperature Probes to collect and analyze air temperature measurements for 23 hours.
- Collect and analyze air temperature measurements at different heights above the ground.
Sensors and Equipment
This experiment requires each of the following Vernier sensors and equipment (unless otherwise noted):
Additional Requirements
You may also need an interface and software for data collection. What do I need for data collection?
Download Experiment Preview
The student-version preview includes:
- Step-by-step instructions for computer-based data collection
- List of materials and equipment
Note: The experiment preview of the computer edition does not include essential teacher information, safety tips, or sample data. Instructions for Logger Pro and other software (such as LabQuest App or TI handheld software, where available) are on the CD that accompanies the book. We strongly recommend that you purchase the book before performing experiments.
Standards Correlations
See all standards correlations for Earth Science with Vernier »
Included in the Lab Book
Vernier lab books include a CD with word-processing files of the student instructions, essential teacher information, suggested answers, sample data and graphs, and more.