For this experiment, you will need five thermometers, strips of colored oak tag, four small material sacks, each made out of different fabrics such as cotton, terry, nylon and fake fur, and a clock to time the experiment. You will also need to find a sunny spot in a room or outside. Lay out the fabric sacks in the sunny spot, making sure each one has the same amount of sunlight exposure. Place a thermometer in each sack, making sure that each thermometer protrudes at the 0-degree Celsius mark. Note the time on your clock and let the sacks sit in the sun for one hour. Remove each thermometer and record the temperature. Compare, contrast and discuss how each different material absorbed the sun's heat.
This experiment requires four T-shirts, a dark room and a sunny spot to hang wet clothes. The focus of this experiment to demonstrate if and why clothes dry faster in sunlight as opposed to a dark room. Soak the T-shirts in water and hand-wring them. Take two damp shirts and hang them in a dark room void of any sunlight. Take the other two shirts and hang them in a sunny spot of a room. Allow them to sit for a few hours and then see which shirts dry faster. Record your findings and discuss how the heat from the sun causes water to evaporate.
You will need a thermometer, white paper, black paper, two identical water glasses, two elastic bands or tape and water. The purpose of this experiment is to investigate whether different colors absorb heat differently. Take one of the glasses and wrap the white paper around the outside and hold it in place with an elastic band or tape. Repeat the process with the other glass and black paper. Fill both glasses with the same amount of water. Place the glasses in sunlight, either outside or inside. Let the water sit for an hour or two. Check each glass of water with the thermometer and record the temperatures of each. Discuss how color may affect heat absorption from the sun's rays.
For this experiment, you will need two pieces of fabric of the same color, a small mirror and a thermometer. Place one piece of fabric directly in the sun. Place the other piece in the sun as well, but place the small mirror in front of it and angle it so that there is a direct reflection of the sun on the fabric. Allow both pieces of fabric to sit in the sun for an hour. Return to the fabric and place your thermometer against each piece and record the differences in temperature. Discuss how and why the mirror's reflection increased the level of heat absorption on the fabric.