What do quantum mechanics and global warming have to do with each other? More than you might think. Surprisingly, this video explains how it's not the energy emitted from the sun that causes the problem, but how the infrared radiation given off by the earth is absorbed and reflected back to the surface by carbon dioxide molecules.

 

Concepts

global warming, climate change, electromagnetic radiation, electromagnetism, electromagnetic spectrum, thermal energy, energy, infrared light, light

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Additional Tags

global warming, climate change, electromagnetic spectrum, thermal radiation, infrared radiation, infrared light, electromagnetic radiation, infrared energy, thermal energy, science

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Instructional Ideas

• Include this video as a supplement to an environmental science unit on global warming or a physics unit on the electromagnetic spectrum
• After watching the video and reading other texts about global warming, have students create visual models explaining the process

Pros

• Video supports scientific explanations with clear visual models
• Resource includes academic language appropriate for high school science students
• Resource allows teachers to create customized lessons based on the video

Cons

• None

Common Core

RI.9-10.7 RI.11-12.7 SL.9-10.1.a SL.9-10.1.c SL.9-10.3 SL.11-12.1.a SL.11-12.1.c SL.11-12.3 RST.9-10.9 RST.11-12.9