Gases and Climate Change

Combustion:

Hypothesis:
If the rubbing alcohol is evaporating and filling the bottle with gas, and the alcohol is flammmable, then it will combust.

Observation: When Miss Leland exposed the flame to the gas and alcohol in the bottle, the alcohol produced a great blue flame and launched about 8 feet sideways. The bottle showed traces of soot and the condensation of the alcohol.

The environment and humans both are responsible for creating greenhouse gases. The amount given off by the environment is normal, but increased human activity pushes the levels higher than the natural balance. Factories, cars and other transportation, trash, etc. produces the greenhouse gases. In addition to making more of the greenhouse gases that exist and are made by nature, we are creating new ones also. When all of the gases rise into the atmosphere, the gases get trapped in the air.


Air Pressure:
Hypothesis: If the pressure in the soda can is high enough, then when it immersed in water it will burst.

Observation: When the can with the open top was put in the ice water, nothing happened.


Hypothesis: If the pressure in the can will be greater when air is not allowed to escape, then when it is immersed into the water it will burst.

Observation: After the water evaporated and filled the can with air, the can was quickly immersed in the water, top facing down. When the air couldn't escape, the can exploded.

Changes in air pressure can have large affects on climate change. Air pressure controls the atmosphere's circulation, therefore affecting how moisture moves, and can control rain, storms, and wind. The air pressure over the United States has increased in the last 50 years. If air pressure continues to change our winters could grow colder or milder, and summer could be drier or wetter. Air pressure has control of our weather, and significant changes in weather patterns could change the climate.


Hydrogen Gas:

Hypothesis: If the hydrogen gas will be produced by separating the elements and then will be ignited, then it will produce a source of power and fuel.

Observation: When the zinc was added to the hydrochloric acid, the hydrogen gas was released into the air. When the flame was lit, there was a small explosion and the hydrogen began burning. When the flame died off about 30 seconds later, the solid zinc was gone and the hydrochloric acid was still giving off hydrogen.

Hydrogen is an energy carrier, and a potential energy storing method. Most of the worlds hydrogen is produced using a non-clean source, still releasing CO2. There is potential for it being a clean energy source. There are also other forms of clean energy, such as water, solar, air, geothermal,



CO2 gas:

Hypothesis:
If the Baking Soda and Vingegar creates co2 and that gas is released into the flame, then it will ignite.

Observation:
The baking soda and vinegar created co2 and the co2 coated the flame and put it out, because the flame needs oxygen to live.

Chornobyl Questions

1. Will the area ever loose it's radiation, and if so, will it ever be inhabitable by humans?

2. Are there still long term affects and illnesses from the disaster 20 years ago?

3. How clean is the area currently?

4. How far from the actual plant did the disaster spread?

5. Have other nuclear power plants melted down? If not, do you think this will help other plants to be extra careful?