SHADE TREES LOWER
INDOOR TEMPERATURES
Introduction
An energy-efficient home helps to conserve natural resources. The
construction of an energy-efficient home takes planning. Builders must
understand how physical factors such as climate and geography affect
indoor temperatures. Manipulating the amount of sunlight entering a
building can influence the internal temperatures. Trees and shrubs can
be planted around buildings to block sunlight and help keep the interior
of a building cool (Figure 1). In this investigation, you will determine
how plants affect the temperature inside a structure.
Sun
shade
trees
Figure 1
Figure 1a
Time Needed
50 minutes on day 1
45 minutes
on day 2 (JNEOF), Fig 1a(6-10-1)
Walker/Wood,
What You Need
F heat lamp
F 2 thermometers
F 2 cardboard shoe boxes with lids
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F scissors or a craft knife
F ruler
F tape
F glue
F 2 potted tomato plants, each about 8 inches (in.) (20
F 2 potted tomato plants, each about 16 in. (40 cm) high
F source of water
F large bag of cotton balls
F marking pen
F 2 medium rubber stoppers, each with a thermometer hole
F science notebook
centimeters [cm]) high
Safety Precautions
Take care when working with scissors or a craft knife. When
inserting the thermometers in the rubber stoppers, be
extremely careful not to break the thermometer. Please
review and follow the safety guidelines.
What You Do: Day 1
1. Use glue to line the inner walls and lid of a shoe box with cotton
balls. Replace the lid. Repeat the procedure with the second box.
2. Turn both shoe boxes upside down so that the lids serve as trays and
the bottoms of the boxes serve as covers.
3. Trace a small circle on the top of one box close to one end of the
box (Figure 2). The circle should be smaller than the small end of the
stopper.
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SHADE TREES LOWER INDOOR TEMPERATURES
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rubber stopper
with hole in center
box lid
Figure 2
Figure 2
4. Cut out the circle Walker/Wood,
with scissors(JNEOF),
or a craft
knife.
Fig 2(6-10-2)
5. Put a thermometer in one of the stoppers. Insert the stopper and
thermometer into the hole in the shoe box, with the bulb of the
thermometer inside the box (Figure 3).
shoe box lid
with thermometer
in rubber stopper
Figure 3
Figure
3
6. Repeat steps 3 to 5 for the second shoe box.
(JNEOF), Fig 3(6-10-2)
3 feet (ft) (0.9
meters [m]) from the front of the heat
7. Place both boxes Walker/Wood,
lamp. Arrange the boxes so that the thermometers are at the end
farthest from the light. Adjust the lamp so that it is about 20 inches
(in.) (50.8 centimeters [cm]) from the boxes. Leave the lamp off until
day 2.
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8. Arrange the potted tomato plants in front of one of the shoe boxes.
9. Water each plant with about 30 milliliters of water.
What You Do: Day 2
1. Observe the initial temperature inside each box. Record the initial
temperatures in your science notebook.
2. Turn on the heat lamp. Expose the buildings to the heat lamp for
40 minutes.
3. Observe the temperature inside each box. Record the temperatures
in your science notebook.
4. Calculate the change in temperature in each box using the formula:
final temperature − initial temp = temperature change
Observations
1. Which box had the greatest change in temperature? Why
do you think this was so?
2. What was the purpose of the cotton balls in this
experiment?
3. Mary performed a similar experiment. Instead of putting
plants around one of the shoe boxes, she put cardboard
cutouts of plants. How would you expect Mary’s data to
compare to yours? Explain your reasoning.
4. Suggest an experiment to find out how the type of plants
around a shoe box affects the temperature inside the
box.
Want to Know More?
See Our Findings.
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SAFETY PRECAUTIONS
Review Before Starting Any Experiment
GENERAL
• Always obtain your teacher’s permission for experiments performed
at school, and your parent’s permission for experiments performed
at home, before attempting any experiment.
• Read all instructions for an experiment before starting the
experiment, and follow the directions exactly as they appear in
this volume.
• If an experiment requires adult supervision, do not perform the
experiment unless you have an adult supervising you the entire
time you are performing the experiment.
• Wash your hands before the start of and after each experiment
you perform.
• Keep your work area clean.
• Never eat or drink while performing an experiment. Never taste a
substance used in an experiment unless you are told that it is safe
to do so.
• Be aware of the location of safety equipment you may need in an
emergency, such as running water, an eyewash if you are at school,
and a fire extinguisher.
• If you are going outside, make sure you have permission to go
from your teacher and parent. Take a buddy with you, and dress
appropriately for the weather. Make sure you or someone who
accompanies you is familiar with the area, and bring along a firstaid kit in case of emergency.
• Never look directly into the Sun.
CHEMICAL SAFETY
• Always wear goggles when working with chemicals, such as acids
and bases, and near heat sources like flames. If at all possible,
avoid wearing contact lenses when working with chemicals.
• If any substance gets into your eyes, notify an adult (e.g., your
teacher or parent) immediately, and flush your eyes with running
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water for at least 15 minutes. Do not mix chemicals unless you are
told to do so by a teacher or parent.
• Never touch, taste, or smell chemicals unless instructed to do so.
• Keep chemicals in closed containers when they are not in use.
• Dispose of all chemicals properly. Do not pour any chemicals or
solids down the drain unless instructed to do so.
• Use safety gloves and a plastic apron when handling chemicals. If
any chemicals spill on your skin, rinse the affected area with
running water for at least 10 minutes, and notify your teacher or
parent immediately.
• Take precautions to avoid spilling chemicals. If a chemical spills on
any surface, notify your teacher or parent immediately to assist
with clean-up.
• Exercise caution when using sharp instruments such as knives or
scissors. Always cut away from yourself, not toward yourself. If you
cut yourself, notify your teacher or parent immediately.
GLASSWARE
• Clean glassware when you are finished with the experiment.
• Be careful when using glassware. If a piece of glassware breaks,
have an adult assist you in clean-up to avoid injuries from broken
glass. Never use broken or damaged glassware.
FIRE SAFETY
• Do not heat glassware that is not completely dry. Do not pick up
hot glassware without heat-resistant gloves or tongs.
• When heating glassware, keep it away from yourself and from
others.
• Do not heat anything unless instructed to do so by a teacher or
parent.
• Do not heat substances in a closed container.
• After an experiment, make sure that all heating sources are off
and that all flames have been put out.
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SAFETY PRECAUTIONS
• Do not reach across such heating sources as flames.
• If you have long hair, tie it back, out of the way. Do not wear
clothing with loose sleeves, scarves, bows, ties, or anything else
that may hang into a fire. Do not wear long earrings.
ELECTRICAL SAFETY
• Do not touch electrical equipment when your hands are wet.
• Do not plug several electrical devices into one outlet or use an
extension cord.
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