Benchtop Global-Warming Demonstrations Do Not Exemplify the Atmospheric Greenhouse Effect, but Alternatives Are Available

• Jerry A. Bell ^[1]
  1. [1] Wisconsin Initiative foUniversity of Wisconsin—Madison, United States
• Localización: Journal of chemical education, ISSN 0021-9584, Vol. 96, Nº 10, 2019, págs. 2352-2354
• Idioma: inglés
• Texto completo no disponible (Saber más ...)
• Resumen

  • The atmospheric greenhouse effect is a topic in many science courses. A number of lecture demonstrations with carbon dioxide purport to show how infrared-absorbing atmospheric gases “trap” energy. The demonstration described here shows that the temperature change observed in these demonstrations is a consequence of the density of carbon dioxide relative to air, not its infrared-absorbing property. Since the pedagogical value instructors report for the usual demonstration is based on an incorrect interpretation of the temperature change and can lead to a misconception about global warming, suggestions are made for possible replacement demonstrations.