Carbon Dioxide (CO2) and Global Warming
Abstract
The technology and the development of resources for human beings have given birth to potentially catastrophic Global Warming. The forests gave way to industrialization; fossil fuel burning on a massive scale caused the emission of carbon dioxide (CO2) on a larger perspective. This experiment is to determine the effect of carbon dioxide on the environment and temperature changes.
Theory
The project experiment will prove that ‘Unwarranted high temperatures relate to higher carbon dioxide content in the air.
Objective
Carbon dioxide (CO2) emits from vehicles and industries when fuel burns. The carbon content present in the emission reacts to produce CO2. Carbon molecules absorb Earth’s heat energy. These molecules do not hold heat for long and release it into the atmosphere. More CO2 produced and released into the atmosphere is dangerous for our ecosystem.
Deforestation is worrisome as the plants absorb substantial CO2 during photosynthesis. Sea also absorbs some CO2, but the rest is released into the atmosphere. The past century has seen a substantial rise in global temperature.
The objective of the experiment is to prove that CO2 emission raises the significant atmospheric temperature.
Experiment Procedure
Required Materials- 3 luminescent lamps, 3 fish tanks with airtight covers and a small 15-20mm diameter hole, 15-20 mm in diameter300 mm rubber hose & 1-meter long rubber hose, 1 airtight plastic bag, 1 infrared thermometer, stopwatch, masking tape, 3 kg of black-colored soil, A vehicle, and a helping hand.
Variables
Independent variable- CO2 Concentration by air is blown from lungs or smoke from car exhaust.
Dependent variable- The temperature of the air in the tank, measured by an infrared thermometer.
Constants variables- the Initial temperature of the air in the tanks, quantity of soil in the base of the tanks, and volume of the tanks.
Process
The three water tanks were filled with a layer of black soil about 20mm thick.
- First tank- A cover placed and sealed with masking tape too. It contains normal air.
- The second tank- Filled with human lungs air, blown through a rubber hose into the gap in the tank then cover sealed with the masking tape.
- The third tank- Fill car emissions in the tank through a hosepipe and seal cover.
- Place 3-lamps above the tanks 1 meter above and leave there until the temperature inside reaches 32°c. Switch off the lamps and record temperature inside after every 10 minutes for one hour.
- The CO2 concentration of human lungs is 4% and car’ exhausts around 12%. Overall, the air around us has about 0.038% carbon dioxide.
Observation
1. Normal Air in the first tank- CO2: 0.038%- Temperature after 1-hour drops to 25.5°c from 32°c.
2. Air from Lungs- CO2 4%- Temperature after 1-hour drops to 27.8° from 32°c.
3. Car exhaust- CO2 12% -Temperature after 1-hour drops to 29.9° from 32°c.
Conclusion
The first tank with the normal air cools down the quickest and the third tank of air from the car exhaust cools down the slowest. This proves carbon plays a huge role in raising the atmospheric temperature and global warming in a larger perspective.