Name: Marco Acuna Date: March 5 2025
Student Exploration: Greenhouse Effect
Directions: Follow the instructions to go through the simulation. Respond to the questions and
prompts in the orange boxes.
Vocabulary: global warming, greenhouse effect, greenhouse gas, heat flow
Prior Knowledge Questions (Do these BEFORE using the Gizmo.)
1. What do you notice when you get into a car that has When I enter the car, the temperature is hot.
been sitting in the Sun for a while?
2. Why is the inside of the car so hot? The inside of the car would be hot because the
heat would build up in the car.
3. How would things be different if the car’s windows If the car windows were open,d then the heat
were left open? would be able to escape and keep the car’s
temperature normal.
Gizmo Warm-up
Like the windows of a car, greenhouse gases play a major role in
regulating Earth’s climate. Without the gases that trap heat in
Earth’s atmosphere, Earth would be a frigid desert like Mars
(average temperature -55°C, or -67°F). Too much greenhouse gas
and Earth could be a fiery inferno like Venus (average temperature
450°C, or 850°F).
On the Greenhouse Effect Gizmo, set the Greenhouse gases to
0% and the Simulation speed to fast.
1. Click Play ( ) and view the BAR CHART tab. The temperature will go up and down every day, but try to
look at the overall trend. What happens to the temperature over time?
Over time, the temperature can not get as hot as it used to. What I mean by this is that over
time, the highest the temperature can go is a low number.
2. Now set the Greenhouse gases to 100% and let the simulation run for a while. How does a maximum
amount of greenhouse gas affect the temperature?
The temperature skyrocketed after only about a week or 2 with the maximum amount of
Student Exploration: Greenhouse Effect
Directions: Follow the instructions to go through the simulation. Respond to the questions and
prompts in the orange boxes.
Vocabulary: global warming, greenhouse effect, greenhouse gas, heat flow
Prior Knowledge Questions (Do these BEFORE using the Gizmo.)
1. What do you notice when you get into a car that has When I enter the car, the temperature is hot.
been sitting in the Sun for a while?
2. Why is the inside of the car so hot? The inside of the car would be hot because the
heat would build up in the car.
3. How would things be different if the car’s windows If the car windows were open,d then the heat
were left open? would be able to escape and keep the car’s
temperature normal.
Gizmo Warm-up
Like the windows of a car, greenhouse gases play a major role in
regulating Earth’s climate. Without the gases that trap heat in
Earth’s atmosphere, Earth would be a frigid desert like Mars
(average temperature -55°C, or -67°F). Too much greenhouse gas
and Earth could be a fiery inferno like Venus (average temperature
450°C, or 850°F).
On the Greenhouse Effect Gizmo, set the Greenhouse gases to
0% and the Simulation speed to fast.
1. Click Play ( ) and view the BAR CHART tab. The temperature will go up and down every day, but try to
look at the overall trend. What happens to the temperature over time?
Over time, the temperature can not get as hot as it used to. What I mean by this is that over
time, the highest the temperature can go is a low number.
2. Now set the Greenhouse gases to 100% and let the simulation run for a while. How does a maximum
amount of greenhouse gas affect the temperature?
The temperature skyrocketed after only about a week or 2 with the maximum amount of
