Practical 1
Clouds and Weather
Introduction:
Clouds are water. Water as a gas is called water vapor. Clouds form when water vapor turns back into liquid water droplets. That is called condensation. It happens in one of two ways: when the air cools enough, or when enough water vapor is added to the air. Most clouds are associated with weather. These clouds can be divided into groups mainly based on the height of the cloud's base above the Earth's surface.
Meteorologists name clouds by how high in the sky they form and by their appearance. Most clouds have two parts to their name. Usually the first part of the name has to do with the height and the second part refers to the appearance.
If clouds form at the highest levels, they get the prefix “cirro” as the first part of their name. Middle clouds get the prefix “alto.” Low clouds don’t get a prefix.
There are two cloud appearance types: cumulus and stratus, which are also the basic names of the low clouds. Sometimes they appear higher in the atmosphere and get a combination name with a prefix. For example, middle cumulus clouds are called “altocumulus” and high stratus clouds are “cirrostratus.” If a cloud produces rain or snow it gets either “nimbo” at the beginning or “nimbus” at the end.
The identification of the first three groups is based on the height of the cloud base above the ground:
- High level clouds with a cloud base between 5 and 13 km above the ground
- mid level clouds with a cloud base between 2 and 6 km above the ground
- low level clouds with a cloud base from 0 to 2 km above the ground.
Procedures:
1. Information about clouds gathered from textbooks or internet.
2. A suitable location was identified and the types of clouds were observed for a period of weeks. The observation done at a fixed time every day.
3. The observations were recorded including any climatic changes (including weather it rains or not)
4. The data obtained were analyzed and interpreted.
5. The report was written included photographs, tables, charts, references etc. to support the discussion.
6. The findings were presented using the power point presentation.
7. The implications of the findings were explained.
Data:
Place: IPGM Kampus Pendidikan Teknik, 56000 Cheras, Kuala Lumpur
Date Time Clouds Weather/climate
24 February 2010
3.00pm Clear sky
25 February 2010
3.00pm Rain at evening around 6pm
26 February 2010
3.00pm Rain at evening around 5.30pm to 7pm
27 February 2010
3.00pm Clear sky
28 February 2010
3.00pm Clear sky
1 March 2010
3.00pm Cloudy
2 March 2010
3.00pm Cloudy
Rain at the evening(around 5.30pm)
Data analysis:
Clouds Characteristics Type of cloud
• High level clouds
• lack in contrast between the top and base Cirrus
• Dark base
• Low level cloud Cumulus
• Dark base
• Low level clouds Cumulus
• High level clouds
• lack in contrast between the top and base Cirrus
• High level clouds
• lack in contrast between the top and base Cirrus
• low level cloud Cumulus
• form from cumulus clouds
• vertically grows Cumulonimbus
Clouds can occur at any level of the atmosphere wherever there is sufficient moisture to allow condensation to take place. The layer of the atmosphere where almost all cloud exists is the troposphere.
As a result from my analysis, I could see that most of the time the clouds are cumulus types. During the day that I observed the clouds, there was rain at the evening time around 5.30pm to 7.00pm. Although the weather was very hot at the time I observed, at 3.00pm. The weather seems likely to change rapidly at those times.
From what I could observe, there were clouds that have dark based and bigger than others. Some were appear smaller size such as on 28 February 2008. The bigger clouds and have dark base is classified in cumulus types. It has dark base because the sunlight cannot moves through the clouds since the cloud is big and have thicker structure.
Cumulonimbus clouds, which are normally associated with thunderstorms, consist of a combination from some or all of the cloud groups. Altostratus clouds create a uniform white to grayish sheet covering the sky with the Sun or Moon visible as bright spot. In frequent light snow or drizzle may accompany this cloud. Low cloud there is members in the family of low clouds stratus, stratocumulus and nimbostratus. Stratus are uniform foglike of layer of clouds that frequently cover much of sky. When the stratus clouds develop a scalloped bottom that appears as long parallel rolls or broken globular patches, they are called stratocumulus clouds.
The weather can be determined by observing the clouds. For example, on 2 March 2010, the cumulonimbus cloud was appearing at the sky, at that evening, rain was falling down. Most probably, cumulus and cumulonimbus will be the sign of rain will be falling down at that day.
Implications:
Clouds can be use to determine the weather on that day, so, it is very useful to us to plan our schedule and activities, especially for outdoor activities. The cumulonimbus and cumulus clouds shows a sign that rain might be fall at that day.
It is very important to certain people with certain work, for example, fisherman should be aware with the weather. They should be able to predict the weather before go to the sea. Their life could be in dangerous if they go to the sea in rainy day.
Conclusion:
Clouds are different from each other. They are determined by height and their appearance. Cumulonimbus is a towering cloud, it can be at lower attitude to high attitude, it brings rains and thunderstorm. High clouds which are above 6000meter contain cirrocumulus, cirrostratus and cirrus. Middle clouds at 4000m to 6000m contain altocumulus, and altostratus. Low clouds at 2000m to 4000m contain nimbostratus, stratus stratocumulus, and cumulus.
References:
Book
Lutgen and Tarbuck, (2008). Foundations Of Earth Science , Pearson prentice hall.
Internet
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cloud
http://www.australiasevereweather.com/techniques/moreadv/class.htm
www.carlwozniak.com/clouds/
www.wxdude.com/page9.html
Practical 2
Identifying Rocks
Introductions:
Geologists classify rocks in three groups, according to the major Earth processes that formed them. The three rock groups are igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic rocks.
Igneous rocks are crystalline solids which form directly from the cooling of magma. This is an exothermic process (it loses heat) and involves a phase change from the liquid to the solid state.
In most places on the surface, the igneous rocks which make up the majority of the crust are covered by a thin veneer of loose sediment, and the rock which is made as layers of this debris get compacted and cemented together. Sedimentary rocks are called secondary, because they are often the result of the accumulation of small pieces broken off of pre-existing rocks.
The metamorphic get their name from "meta" (change) and "morph" (form). Any rock can become a metamorphic rock. All that is required is for the rock to be moved into an environment in which the minerals which make up the rock become unstable and out of equilibrium with the new environmental conditions. In most cases, this involves burial which leads to a rise in temperature and pressure. The metamorphic changes in the minerals always move in a direction designed to restore equilibrium. Common metamorphic rocks include slate, schist, gneiss, and marble.
Apparatus :
1. Weighing
2. Beaker
3. Measuring cylinder
4. Nail
5. Coin
6. dropper
Materials:
1. Different type of rocks
2. Water
3. Sulphuric acid
Procedures:
1. Rocks sample was bring from neighborhood.
2. The different in the rocks was discussed by using content in the table.
3. The densities of the rocks were find using the mass/ volume relationship.
4. From the data collected the name of rocks was defined.
5. The other technique was used to classify or name the rocks.
6. The rocks were tested with sulphuric acid by using the dropper. The surface of the rocks tested with sulphuric acid was observed.
7. The hardness of the rocks was tested using finger nail, common nail and concrete nail according to the scale of hardness of the rocks.
8. The volume was measured using measuring cylinder and the weight was measured using weighing.
Data:
Rock A
Rock B
Rock C
Rock D
Rock E
Data analysis:
In this experiment, 5 samples of rock had best tested. The rocks were collected from different places.
Rocks Place taken
A Hill
B Near the road
C River
D Road
E At field
The rocks had been observed in order to classify them according to their characteristics. The rocks are classified into three groups, which are igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic. Each of the rocks has their own characteristics. So, some laboratory tests were taken place. Chemical and physical tests were used to test the rocks.
As the results, Rock A is only one sample we can classify for the igneous rock because of the characteristics. The density of this rock is 2.32 x 10-3. Rock A is white in colour, sparkling, very hard because by using the scale tested with concrete nail(7.5), it has no layer, the texture is extrusive, no pattern of this rocks and was tested with acid sulphuric show the reaction occur because present of carbonate. The presence of bubble on the surface of the stone shows the carbonate is formed.
For Rock B and Rock D, both are classified as sedimentary rock. Both have rough surface and not react with an acid to form carbonate. No bubbles were formed. Both have more than one colour, which is black and white. The Rock B and Rock D are hard because I could not scratch with finger or knife. Rock B has density about 2.075 x 10-3 kg cm-3, while the density of rock D is 2.628 kg cm-3.
Rock C is an example of metamorphic rock. Due to it characteristic, Rock C has black and white pattern. It is hard rock because it could not be stretch by the finger. It shows no reaction when react with acid sulphuric. No bubbles were formed. Rock C has layer and the density of Rock C is 2.736 kg cm-3
Rock E is another igneous rock. It is white in colour. No reaction occur when react with acid sulphuric. It is a shiny rock. There is no pattern on this rock. The rock’s density is 1.926 kg cm-3
Conclusion:
Rocks are classified by studying their characteristic, such as pattern, hardness, reaction with acid, density, layer and it texture. Rocks are classified into three types, which are igneous, metamorphic and sedimentary rock.
Igneous rock Sedimentary rock Metamorphic rock
Rock A
Rock E
Rock B
Rock D
Rock C
References:
Book
Lutgen and Tarbuck, (2008). Foundations Of Earth Science , Pearson prentice hall.
Internet
http://www.hf.uio.no/iakh/forskning/sarc/iakh/lithic/rocks.html
http://www.rocks-rock.com/rock-types.html
http://www.zephyrus.co.uk/rocktypes.html
http://jersey.uoregon.edu/~mstrick/AskGeoMan/geoQuerry13.html
http://library.thinkquest.org/20035/newpage8.htm
Practical 3
The rising of the sun
Introduction:
The average distance from the Sun to the Earth is 1.496 x 1011metres (149 million kilometres or 92.58 million miles).
The minimum distance from the sun to the earth is 146 million km (or 91 million miles), and the maximum distance from the sun to the earth is 152 million kilometres (or 94.5 million miles. )
The sun is a neighborly 93 million miles away. That is the common average figure. Because of the earth's elliptical orbit around the sun, the distance changes over the course of a year. We are closest at perihelion (91 million miles) during northern hemisphere winters, and farthest at aphelion, during northern hemisphere summers. Light from the sun takes roughly 8 minutes to reach the earth. From the frame of reference of the photons making the trip, arrival is instantaneous.
93 million miles is the distance from the Earth to the Sun (on average), or 8 minutes, 20 seconds at the speed of light.
Sunrise is the instant at which the upper edge of the Sun appears above the horizon in the east. The apparent westward revolution of Sun around the earth after rising out of the horizon is due to the Earth's eastward rotation, a counter-clockwise revolution when viewed from above the North Pole.
The intense red and orange hues of the sky at sunrise and sunset are mainly caused by scattering of sunlight by dust particles, soot particles, other solid aerosols, and liquid aerosols in the Earth's atmosphere.
As one travels farther from the equator, the times of sunrise and sunset change throughout the year. Even on the equator, sunrise and sunset shift several minutes back and forth through the year, along with solar noon.
Data:
Date Time Azimuth,o Altitude,o
24 February 2010 0630 259 13
0645 259 9
0700 260 5
25 February 2010 0630 259 13
0645 260 9
0700 260 5
26 February 2010 0630 260 13
0645 260 9
0700 260 3
27 February 2010 0630 260 13
0645 260 9
0700 261 5
28 February 2010 0630 261 13
0645 261 9
0700 261 5
01 March 2010 0630 261 13
0645 261 9
0700 262 5
02 March 2010 0630 261 13
0645 262 9
0700 262 5
03 March 2010 0630 262 13
0645 262 9
0700 262 5
04 March 2010 0630 262 13
0645 262 9
0700 263 5
05 March 2010 0630 263 13
0645 263 9
0700 263 5
06 March 2010 0630 263 13
0645 264 9
0700 264 5
07 March 2010 0630 263 13
0645 264 9
0700 264 5
08 March 2010 0630 264 13
0645 264 9
0700 264 5
09 March 2010 0630 264 13
0645 264 9
0700 265 5
Data analysis:
The sun is rise from the East and set to the West.
Because of the elliptical nature of the earth’s orbit and constant changes in the earth’s rate of spin because of the previously mentioned phenomena, the sun, as seen from earth, is moving at a non-uniform rate. This makes it difficult to use the real position of the sun as a reference for time keeping. For these purposes, a point which moves at a constant rate around the earth is used instead of the real position of the sun. This point is called the mean sun and is the basis for mean solar time.
From the data, we can see that, the Sun is rising earlier as the day increases. The data shows a little different in azimuth increasing everyday.
To find out the position azimuth = 60, elevation = 30, for example, imagine standing at the center of the diagram heading to the true north. To find the azimuth angle 60, you must turn 60 degrees to the right. Now the altitude angle 30 can be located by raising your head 30 degrees from the horizon.
1. Azimuth angle
2. Elevation angle
3. Sun's path today
4. Sun's path on the 21st June
5. Sun's path on the 21st December
6. Sun's path during the equinox
7. Sunrise
8. Sunset
9. Horizon
It can be seen from the diagram (3. "Sun's path today") that the sun rises from the North-East (azimuth = 60) in Tampere at 05:37. Sunset happens at 21:20 when the sun is in the North-West (azimuth = 300). On that day the elevation angle is approximately 50 degrees at noon.
Conclusion:
The altitude of the Sun is decrease, while the azimuth of the sun is increase as the Sun set everyday. This phenomenon due to the annual change in the relative position of the Earth’s axis in the relationship to the Sun causes the height of the altitude to vary in the sky.
Data interpretation:
Time Azimuth,o Altitude,o
0630 259 13
0645 259 9
0700 260 5
Table 1
Graph: The movement of the Sun
According to the graph, the Sun is move 4o every 15 minutes. As the azimuth increases, the altitude is decreases.
The azimuth increases about 1o, while the altitude decrease about 4o.
Based on the data collected, the Sun rise earlier everyday. That’s mean the Sun is at upper position everyday at the same time.
Sun height declines with latitude as we move away from the Equator. For each degree of latitude traveled maximum Sun height decreases by the same amount. At equinox, we can also calculate the noon angle by subtracting the location's latitude from 90.
The Sun goes through a seasonal variation, once a year. In December and January, the Sun is in the far south of the sky. It rises in the south-east; it spends only a few hours above the horizon (for northern-hemisphere observers), crossing the sky quite low down; and it sets in the south-west.
In June and July, the Sun is in the far north of the sky. It rises in the north-east ; it spends many hours above the horizon (for northern-hemisphere observers), crossing the sky quite high up; and it sets in the north-west.
the sun appears to move across the sky it means that the shadows also move. The shadows
References
Book
Michael A. Seeds. (2008). Foundation of Astronomy Tenth Edition. Thomas Higher Education. USA
Internet
http://library.thinkquest.org/29033/begin/earthsunmoon.html
http://sse.jpl.nasa.gov/features/planets/earth/earth.html
http://www.windows.ucar.edu/tour/link=/the_universe/uts/earth3.html
