Instruction Manual

Manual No. 012-08690A

Solar Constant
Model No. TD-8497

Solar Constant

Model No. TD-8497

Table of Contents
Equipment List........................................................... 3 Introduction ............................................................. 4 Setup Procedure ........................................................ 4 Setup Options with Science

or!shop Interfaces .................... "

Setup Options with P#SPO$T Interfaces ............................. " E%periment Tips ......................................................... " Su&&ested E%periment .................................................. ' Teacher(s )otes......................................................... * Sample +ata,$esults.................................................... #ppendi% #. Technical Support ....................................... /0 #ppendi% 1. Cop2ri&ht and arrant2 Information .................. /0

Model No. TD-8497

Solar Constant

Solar Constant
Model No. TD-8497

Equipment List
1 2 3

Included !ui"#ent 1. Cylinder, aluminum, black, 1 inch 2. Cylinder, aluminum, black, 0.7 inch !. Cylinder, bra"", black, 0.7 inch 4. Cylinder, aluminum, #oli"hed, 0.7 inch . Cylinder, aluminum, $hi%e, 0.7 inch 6. Moun%in& bracke% $i%h rod clam#

$e"lace#ent Model Nu#%er&

648-08684 648-08686 648-08688 648-08687 648-0868 00!-08691

*Use Replacement Model Numbers to expedite replacement orders.

'dditional !ui"#ent $e!uired ()or use *it+ ,'S,-$T. Any 'A(')*+ com#u%er in%er,ace -'A(')*+. or (cience/ork"ho# 0 1uad +em#era%ure (en"or -10 or +em#era%ure (en"or" $e"lace#ent Model Nu#%er&
(ee 'A(C) ca%alo&. '(-214!-10 or '(-212 -!0 or '(2146-!0 '(-21 ! or C2-660

(%ainle"" (%eel +em#era%ure 'robe" -!0

Solar Constant

Model No. TD-8497

Introduction
The Solar Constant Set is used for discovering the rate at which radiant energ is received from the sun. Using the included brac!et and a standard ring stand" these c linders can be used to discover the solar constant or to simpl compare the energ transfer to various c linders. #n a t pical experiment" the c linders are each placed on a temperature probe and secured in a mounting brac!et. The c linders are ta!en outside and positioned such that each c linder is perpendicular to the sun$s light ra s. Using a fourth temperature probe %such as our &ast Response Temperature 'robe %'S()*+,-" the ambient temperature can be measured throughout the entire experiment. The student t picall collects temperature vs. time data for approximatel one(half hour. Setup Procedure 1. #nsert a rod into a rod stand. Slide the rod clamp on the mounting brac!et over the rod" and tighten the rod clamp. 2. .ith the big !nob" set the angle so that the temperature probe points directl at the sun. Note: The c linders are designed to onl fit the new stainless steel temperature probes %'S()*,+ and C#( //0,-. The 'S()*,+ probe can be used with either a '1S'2RT Temperature Sensor %'S()*),-" 'ressure3 Temp. Sensor %'S()*4/-" 5uad Temp. Sensor %'S( )*4+-" or the C#(thermistor Sensor %C#(/,)61-. The C#(//0, Stainless Steel Temperature 'robe plugs directl into a C#(interface.

/i0ure 11 Setu" *it+ c2linders on te#"erature "ro%es

3. #nsert each probe through the hole in the brac!et hole and tighten with a thumbscrew. 'lace a *.,( in. piece of blue tubing over the bottom third of the probe to protect the probe. 7lue tubing is provided with both the Stainless Steel Temperature 'robe and the Solar Constant Set-. Note: .hen securing the probe in the plastic holder" ma!e sure that the thumb screw seats over the tubing" not directl on the stainless steel probe. 8o not overtighten the screw" or ou ma collapse the probe. 4. Use the holes in the c linders to fit the c linders on the tip of the probes. 9ou can position the c linders either hori:ontall or verticall on the probe. 5. Connect each of the probes to a temperature sensor. %Note: The 5uad Temp. Sensor %'S( )*4+- accommodates all four probes.4

6. Connect one or more temperature sensor%s- to either a '1S'2RT or ScienceWorkshop computer interface. %See the interface setup options on the this page.7. 2pen 8ataStudio. To begin collecting data" clic! the Start button. Setup Options with Science or!shop Interfaces #nterfaces ( 9ou can datalog with a ,00 or 6,0 ScienceWorkshop interface in real time. .ith a ScienceWorkshop interface" ou can use up to three sensor ports. Sensors and probes ( Use the C#(Thermistor Sensor %C#(/,)61-" and either the 'S()*,+ Stainless Steel Temperature 'robe or the C#(//0, Stainless Steel Temperature 'robe. Setup Options with P#SPO$T Interfaces #nterfaces ( 8ata log with an of the following; a- an <plorer" b- laptop computer with US7 lin! or c- 'ower=in! with a laptop computer or a palm handheld device. Sensors and probes ( 9ou can use either a single 5uad Temperature Sensor %'S()*4+- or three 'S()*), Temperature Sensors. 1 5uad Temp sensor is recommended. .ith a single 5uad Temperature Sensor" ou can attach four temperature probes %three stainless steel probes for the temperature of the c linders and one &ast Response Temperature 'robe %'S( )*+,- to separatel monitor the ambient temperature-. E%periment Tips 1. Place the cylinders and entire apparatus outdoors in direct sunlight. This experiment must be performed in direct sunlight. #t can be performed in earl morning and late afternoon" but of course" the values ou record in the earl morning will be much lower. #f ou are tr ing to find the true solar constant" ou will record a better value if ou perform the experiment in the middle of a clear da in summer. 2. Aim and align the stainless steel probes directly at the sun. The best wa to chec! alignment is to loo! at the shadow the c linder casts on the base. This is wh the base is white. #f the experiment lasts for more than *0 or *, minutes" rechec! the alignment to account for the motion of the sun. 3. Record the initial temperature of the cylinders before starting the experiment. #f ou are tr ing to measure the solar constant" start with the c linders at least ,3C below outside ambient temperature. #f ou bring the c linders from inside where it is cool" this might be enough. #f not" cool the c linders with ice or cold water" but ma!e sure the are dr before starting. 8on$t get water in the holes of the c linders. #t also helps to have a shade to cover the c linders while ou set up and chec! alignment. .hen all three c linders are at about the same temperature %at least ,3C below ambient temperature-" start recording and remove the shade.

Su&&ested E%periment. 3indin& the Solar Constant

!ui"#ent $e!uired1 (olar Con"%an% (e% -+4-84970 +em#era%ure (en"or"5 -10 '(-214! or -!0 '(-212 or -!0 '(-2146 or -!0 C26 27A 4a%a(%udio "o,%$are -!0 (%ainle"" (%eel +em#era%ure 'robe" -'(-21 ! or C2-660 00 Com#u%er in%er,ace -'A(')*+ or (cience/ork"ho#0 (%andard +hermome%er or 6a"% *e"#on"e +em#era%ure 'robe -'(-21! 0

Theor2. 5>mc?T %*-" where 5>Thermal @nerg added to the c linder" m>mass of the c linder" c>specific heat of the c linder" ?T>change in c linder temperature
QAt >I (((((((((( A

%)-"

where #>intensit of sunlight %Solar Constant-" 1>cross(sectional area of the c linder %area of the shadow-" and t>time. Combining eBuations %*- and %)- ields
mc I > (((((((((((((((((( ((( A ? T ((( (((( t

%+-"

where ?T A t is the c linder$s rate of temperature change and also the slope of the ? T vs. t graph. Procedure 1. &ollow the CSetup 'rocedureD on pages 4(,. 'lace the white" silver" and small aluminum %lighter weight-" blac! c linder each on a separate stainless steel temp. probe. #f using the 5uad Temperature Sensor" use a fourth temperature probe to measure ambient temperature. 2therwise" record the value of the outside ambient temperature with a standard thermometer. Ma!e sure to start with the c linders colder than ambient temperature %See C@xperiment TipsD on page ,-.

2. 'lace the c linders in direct sunlight" chec! their alignment" and start recording. To obtain the solar constant" ou onl need to heat the c linders to about , oC above ambient temperature. To see the effect the different surfaces have on the solar constant" allow the temperatures to come to eBuilibrium. 3. To see the effect the different surfaces have on radiant cooling after eBuilibrium is reached" shade the c linders" %or move them indoors- while still recording. Continue recording until the temperatures come to a new eBuilibrium. Calculations 1. =oo! at the data for the blac! c linder. Using 8ataStudio" do a linear fit for this data" but highlight onl the area near outside ambient temperature. %To do a linear fit" clic! the Curve Fit button on the Eraph displa . &rom the menu of fit options" select C=inear &it.DRecord the slope of this line. 1t this point" the heating or cooling effect of the surrounding air is eliminated" and the temperature increase is onl due to the sun. The slope is the rate %oC3sec- that the temperature is increasing. 2. Measure the mass %m- and the cross sectional area %A- of the blac! c linder. Note that this area is not the surface area" but the proFected area of the shadow G1>%=ength- x %8iameter-H. 3. Calculate the intensit of the sunlight %solar
((((((((((((( (( t ? T (((( mc ((( constant-" I > (((( where A

/i0ure 1-11 3"eri#ent Setu"

% ? T/t- is the

slope from our graph" and c is the specific heat of aluminum. 4uestions. 1. Calculate the intensit " I" for the white and silver c linders. .h are the so much lessI .here does the energ goI 2. .hich c linder initiall heats up faster" the white or silver c linderI =oo! at the values for the intensit %I- from Buestion %*-. 3. #f ou left the c linders in the sun long enough to come to eBuilibrium" ou should see that the white c linder is the coolest at eBuilibrium. 8oes this ma!e sense based on how ou answered Buestion %)-I 4. =oo! at the cooling curves at the point when the c linders were removed from the sunlight. .hich color c linder has the steepest cooling curveI .hich color c linder radiates energ betterI

3or 3urther Stud2. 1. Repeat the experiment with the three blac! c linders. 2. Calculate the intensit " I" for all three c linders. The heavier small blac! c linder is made of brass. 8id ou record about the same intensit value for all three c lindersI 3. =oo! at the eBuilibrium temperature that each c linder reaches. .h arenJt the eBuilibria the same" in view of our answer from Buestion %)-I

Teacher(s )otes
Shown below are t pical heating rates of three aluminum c linders with three different surfaces. Notice that both the heating rate and final temperature are largest for the blac! c linder. The white c linder clearl is the coolest at the final temperature. The slope on the graph is in degrees C3second" even though the axis is displa ed in minutes. This data was ta!en in California during the summer around noon. The ambient temperature was measured with a &ast Response Temperature 'robe" and thus the fluctuations there are real" due to ver small air currents around the building. 1lso notice the small dip in all three temperatures at about */ minutes" due to a small cloud that drifted b K
4eatin0 $ates o) T+ree 'lu#inu# C2linders *it+ Di))erent Sur)aces

Sample +ata
This graph shows cooling rates for the three aluminum c linders with different surfaces. .hen the c linders were moved inside to a cool room" the white c linder emitted radiation almost as good as the blac! c linder. The white c linder cooled faster than the silverL this shows wh white is the best overall color to !eep coolKKK
Coolin0 rates o) 'lu#inu# C2linders Mo5ed Indoors to a Cool $oo#

The following graph shows a comparison of heating rates for the three black c linders" each of a different si:e and3or material. Note that the small c linder heats up faster %because of a bigger surface to volume ratio" as expected- than the other c linders" but the big c linder has the highest final temperature. .h I
4eatin0 $ates o) 6lac7 C2linders o) Di))erent Si8e and9or Material

#ppendi% #. Technical Support

&or assistance with the T8(M4N6 Solar Constant Set or an other '1SC2 products" contact '1SC2 as follows; 1ddress; '1SC2 scientific *0*0* &oothills 7lvd. Roseville" C1 N,646(6*00 'hone; &1<; .eb; @mail; %N*/- 6M/(+M00 %N*/- 6M/(+)N) www.pasco.com techsuppOpasco.com

#ppendi% 1. Cop2ri&ht and

Cop2ri&ht )otice

arrant2 Information

The '1SC2 scientific 0*)(0M/N01 Solar Constant Manual is cop righted and all rights reserved. Powever" permission is granted to non(profit educational institutions for reproduction of an part of the 0*)(0M/N01 Solar Constant Manual providing the reproductions are used onl for their laboratories and are not sold for profit. Reproduction under an other circumstances" without the written consent of '1SC2 scientific" is prohibited. Limited arrant2

&or a description of the product warrant " see the '1SC2 catalog.