Meet the Greenhouse Gases
Learn about global warming and the structure of greenhouse gases.
What You Need
- Toothpicks (5 to 10 per person)
- Gumdrops or marshmallows, 4 different colours (17 total, in the following quantities: 7,6,2,2)
Guide:
Safety Notes
Ensure you are familiar with Let's Talk Science's precautions with regards to virtual outreach with youth.
Ensure to check that there are no allergies related to the materials used in this workshop.
What To Do
Pre Activity Prep
- Pre-package gumdrops and toothpicks in paper bags for each participant.
Activity
Use toothpicks and gumdrops to construct a greenhouse gas molecule from the following list:
- Ozone (O3): Three red (oxygen) gumdrops joined by two half-toothpicks.
- Nitrous oxide (N2O): One green (nitrogen) gumdrop joined by half toothpicks to two red (oxygen) gumdrops.
- Carbon dioxide (CO2): One purple (carbon) gumdrop joined by half toothpicks to two red (oxygen) gumdrops.
- Water vapour (H2O): Two white (hydrogen) gumdrops joined by half-toothpicks to one red (oxygen) gumdrop.
- Methane (CH4): One purple (carbon) gumdrop joined by half-toothpicks to four white (hydrogen) gumdrops.
Discovery
Farmers use greenhouses to trap heat from the sun to warm the plants and air inside. Greenhouse gases are located in the Earth's atmosphere and act like a greenhouse by trapping the heat from the Sun, warming the Earth. Greenhouse gasses have many different shapes and properties. Some greenhouse gases have a greater ability to trap heat and some stay in our atmosphere longer than others.
Scientists believe that human activity is causing over-emission of greenhouse gases, warming the Earth at an alarming rate. For example, cars and factories use fossil fuels, causing a lot of greenhouse gases to be released. Therefore, it is important for us to reduce our greenhouse gas emissions to reduce the warming of our Earth and its adverse effects.
What's Happening?
Farmers use greenhouses to trap heat from the sun to warm the plants and air inside. Greenhouse gases are located in the Earth's atmosphere and act like a greenhouse by trapping the heat from the Sun, warming the Earth. Greenhouse gasses have many different shapes and properties. Some greenhouse gases have a greater ability to trap heat and some stay in our atmosphere longer than others.
Why Does It Matter?
Scientists believe that human activity is causing over-emission of greenhouse gases, warming the Earth at an alarming rate. For example, cars and factories use fossil fuels, causing a lot of greenhouse gases to be released. Therefore, it is important for us to reduce our greenhouse gas emissions to reduce the warming of our Earth and its adverse effects.