No.

13 STUDENT DATA SHEET

Lab Activity – Testing Thermal Storage Materials

Introduction Performing the Experiment

The purpose of this activity is to test the thermal (wear goggles, use gloves)
storage capabilities of several materials that could be 1. As directed by your teacher, obtain 200 ml of each
used as thermal mass. material you will be testing: sand, paper or other
material.
Before You Start 2. Place 200 ml of one test material in beaker #1, 200
Review the vocabulary words from the Reading ml of the second test material in beaker #2, and 200
Passage. Ask your teacher if you are unsure of any ml of the third test material in beaker #3. If you are
of the meanings. Divide up all the steps in the Lab using a more dense material as the teacher instructs,
Activity first, so that everyone has a clear job to do. fill the beaker halfway then place the thermometer
into the material and finish filling the beaker. You
Materials should avoid forcing a thermometer into dense
Obtain an equipment kit from your teacher. Check materials because the thermometer may break.
that it contains the following materials: 3. Place a small thermometer in each beaker you will
• 200 ml of any 3 test materials your teacher has test. Be sure the test material covers the bottom of
prepared the thermometer.
• 3 small thermometers 4. Record the starting temperatures of the test
• 1 lab thermometer materials on your Data Table.
• 3 beakers to hold test materials 5. Place your 3 beakers to be tested into the container.
• 1 liter of ice water OR 6. Take 1 liter of either hot or cold water as directed
• 1 liter of hot water at 85° C approximate by your teacher and pour the water into the
• container to hold beakers container with the 3 standing beakers.
• goggles 7. Place a separate thermometer in the water bath.
• gloves 8. Read and record on your Data Table the
temperature of the test materials and the water
bath every minute for 10 minutes.
9. Dispose of the contents of your beakers as directed
by your teacher.

thermometer
for water bath
thermometer 3
thermometer 1
thermometer 2

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material 1 material 2
material 3

beaker 1 water bath in

beaker 2 beaker 3 container

8 – PASSIVE SOLAR DESIGN FOR HOMES Unit of Study No. 13

 STUDENT DATA SHEET No. 13

Lab Report Form – Testing Thermal Storage Materials

Date ___________________________________________________________________________________

Purpose of this lab is to _____________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________________

Instructions:
Follow the instructions listed in the Lab Activity and record your measurements in the Data Table below. Once
you have completed all the measurements and calculations, answer the questions at the end of this form and
create a graph according to your teacher’s instructions.

DATA TABLE. Temperature Measurements of Thermal Mass In Water Baths

Material: __________ Material: __________ Material: __________
Temperature
Time Temperature of Temperature of Temperature of of Water
Material Material Material
Start
00:01
00:02
00:03
00:04
00:05
00:06
00:07
00:08
00:09
00:10
Total
Temperature
Change

1. Which material retained its initial temperature the longest? ______________________________________

2. Which material changed its initial temperature the quickest? _____________________________________

3. How did this lab help you determine how thermal storage works? _________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________

4. According to your teacher’s instructions, create a graph with the data you have collected.

Unit of Study No. 13 PASSIVE SOLAR DESIGN FOR HOMES – 9

No. 13 STUDENT DATA SHEET

Assessment Questions
1. What local materials do you think would provide good thermal mass?
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________

2. Which material used in the activity kept its starting temperature the longest? _________________________
Why? ________________________________________________________________________________

3. How is landscaping used in an energy efficient home design?

_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________

Multiple Choice Questions

1. Passive solar design: 6. The Trombe wall is:
a) is useful in all climates a) a fire wall
b) depends on proper house orientation b) a glass covered thermal mass wall
c) can save you money c) vented on top and bottom
d) all answers a, b, and c d) b and c

2. The sun is: 7. Deciduous means:

a) higher in the sky in winter a) evergreen
b) the same height in winter and summer b) indecisive
c) lower in the sky in winter c) losing leaves in autumn
d) lower in the sky in summer d) a flowering bush

3. The direct-gain system is dependent on: 8. Solar contribution is greatest in

a) south-facing design a) Lufkin and Corpus Christi
b) correct sun angles b) El Paso and Lubbock
c) any sun angle c) Brownsville
d) answers a and b d) Houston

4. An example of thermal mass is: 9. Generally in Texas:

a) adobe a) Cooling is more of a problem than heating.
b) styrofoam b) Having east-facing windows is important.
c) shade c) Porches are unnecessary for shade.
d) glass d) a and b

5. Landscaping can: 10. In order to keep a home cooler:

a) change the sun’s position a) shade trees are used
b) be thermal storage system b) blinds for windows are shut during the day
c) be a direct gain glazing c) hot air spaces are allowed to be vented
d) reduce energy costs d) all answers a, b, and c

10 – PASSIVE SOLAR DESIGN FOR HOMES Unit of Study No. 13

 TEACHER ANSWER KEY No. 13

Understanding the Reading Passage

Vocabulary Definitions
1. Solar orientation is locating and positioning a
home on a piece of land so that it takes advantage architect – a person who designs buildings
of the sun for its heating and cooling needs.
climate – the weather pattern in a region over a
2. Thermal mass is a material that gains and loses heat
long period of time
slowly. Examples include concrete, brick, tile, etc.
3. They contain a large amount of thermal mass
deciduous – a tree whose leaves shed each year at
that can help store heat from the sun and can
the end of the period of growth, often in autumn
be enhanced by adding a fan to distribute air to
different parts of the house.
dense – thick, packed closely together
4. A thermal mass wall on the south side of a home
that is covered in glass allows heat to be collected direct-gain – solar radiation directly entering and
and stored. The heat can be circulated to the home heating living spaces, such as south-facing windows
by natural air movement or by vents. that admit heat from the winter sun and warm the
5. Deciduous trees and bushes can prevent the sun room’s air
from entering and heating a home thereby keeping
the home cool. In the winter their bare branches indirect-gain – storing or trapping heat so that it
allow sunlight in the home to keep it warm. can be used in other parts of a building, such as a
6. Accept students’ answers. Both Figures show how a room with a substantial amount of thermal mass
house design can impact the amount of solar heat (concrete, adobe, brick, water, etc.), with many
on a home. windows through which the thermal mass captures
the heat from the sun and releases the stored heat
Assessment Questions at night
1. The local materials will vary among concrete, passive solar – using or capturing solar energy
brick, adobe, etc. without any external power
2. Answers will vary depending on lab results. In
general, more dense materials will retain their solar collector – device that collects solar radiation
starting temperature the longest. and converts it into heat energy
3. Well planned landscaping with deciduous trees can
provide shade, especially on the west side of the house thermal mass – a dense material that gains or loses
in the summer, and can allow sunlight to filter into heat slowly; examples are concrete, adobe, stone,
the home in the winter. Plants and grass around the brick and water
home are cooler than rocks and concrete, which create
thermal mass in the yard, making the house hotter. Trombe wall – a glass covered thermal mass wall
on the south side of a home that uses small vents
Multiple Choice Questions in the top and bottom to allow warm air to flow
into the house
1 d; 2 c; 3 d; 4 a; 5 d; 6 d; 7 c; 8 b; 9 a; 10 d

Unit of Study No. 13 PASSIVE SOLAR DESIGN FOR HOMES – 11

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