Rainbow High School Case Study

A teacher at Rainbow High School did a demonstration for her class. She used 2 identical two- liter, clear plastic soda bottles. The bottles were rinsed and dried before they were to be placed in the sun. A thermometer was placed inside one bottle and sealed. The top was cut off the second bottle, and two openings were cut on opposite sides of the bottle. A thermometer was then placed inside the second bottle. Robert’s viewpoint:
Robert concluded that the sealed bottle would trap heat inside the bottle from the sun. He thought this would cause the temperature to rise at a greater rate than the unsealed bottle.
Ella’s viewpoint:
Ella concluded that both bottles would be affected by the surrounding air temperature; therefore, she thought the temperature would be the same on both thermometers.

•
6-8.9
A. Robert only
B. Ella only
C. Robert and Ella
D. Neither Robert nor Ella

• The sealed bottle models the greenhouse effect better than the open bottle. What is the cause of this effect? 6-8.9
A. The sealed bottle is made of plastic, and therefore collects more heat.
B. The air of the sealed bottle produces more heat.
C. The sealed bottle traps the heat. *
D. The sealed bottle does not heat up as