Lab Resource

Why Does it Get Colder on a Clear Night than a Cloudy Night?

Curated and Reviewed by Lesson Planet
This Why Does it Get Colder on a Clear Night than a Cloudy Night? lab resource also includes:

Clouds are nature's insulator! A lab investigation asks learners to use an infrared thermometer to measure differences in infrared temperatures. They find that pointing the thermometer at a cloud has a much different result than pointing it at a clear sky.

11 Views 4 Downloads NGSS: Adaptable
Additional Tags
Instructional Ideas
  • Track nightly temperatures related to weather patterns for an extended amount of time; compare data from cloudy and clear nights
Classroom Considerations
  • Requires previous study of radiation and thermal energy
  • Review safety precautions for working with lasers
Pros
  • Includes a detailed teaching guide to help prepare for instruction
  • Provides questioning strategies to use during the lesson
Cons
  • None
NGSS