Introduction
Insolation is the amount of solar radiation received by the Earth or other planet. Because the Earth’s axis is tilted, a location on Earth receives different amounts of solar radiation at different times of the year. In this experiment, a simulated sun—a light bulb—will shine on surfaces positioned at three different angles: 30°, 60°, and 90°. Computer-interfaced Temperature Probes will be used to monitor surface temperature changes caused by radiation from the light bulb.
Objectives
In this experiment, you will
- Measure temperature.
- Graph temperature data.
- Determine the relationship between angle and temperature change.