Download Smog - BUBL

FAQ’s from the BUBL™
“Educating our community about Lake Ontario, one student at a time”.
A product of Monroe #1 BOCES Vol. 2 Issue 4 December 2004
“Inquiry into authentic questions generated from student experience is the central strategy
For teaching science.” National Science Education Standards
Smog: What is it?
Smog is a relatively new word. The word followed the phenomenon first noticed during the Industrial
Revolution in London England. The word smog is first recorded in 1905, in a newspaper report. The
report, entitled “Fog and Smoke,” listed the words in the Daily Graphic of July 26, “there was
something produced in great cities which was not found in the country, and that was smoky fog, or
what was known as ‘smog.’” The next day the Globe remarked that “Dr. des Vux did a public service
in coining a new word for the London fog.”
How does this effect me?
Several times each year, our community and this region of our country goes through tremendous
temperature changes. This rapid temperature change allows warm bodies of air from the surface to
collide with cold bodies of air in the atmosphere. This collision often causes a familiar result……fog.
This fog can cause all kinds of havoc for those trying to drive, fly, sail or navigate. Thankfully, fog is
usually short lived in our area due to wind and pressure changes. However, if you think that “Fog and
Smoke”, SMOG is just a nuisance and someone else’s problem, then keep reading. In high
concentrations, industrial smog can be extremely toxic to humans and other living organisms. London
is world famous for its episodes of industrial smog. The most famous London smog event occurred in
December, 1952 when five days of calm foggy weather created a toxic atmosphere that claimed about
4000 human lives.
Rochester runs a risk of developing fog because of our proximity to Lake Ontario. Furthermore, we
have enough industrial companies and traffic in our community to generate the pollution needed to
produce “Fog and Smoke” aka SMOG. As this potential rises, it’s important for you to see how easy it
is to have smog form. Try this experiment for yourself and write down your observations, concerns and
new found understanding. If proof is what you’re looking for, try the experiment a few times or have
someone else run the experiment and watch their results. The experiment may change your attitude!!
Smog: Let’s make it!!!
Supplies Needed: **Parent or teacher permission is 1st.**
2 glass jars with wide mouths
A few safety matches **Adult Supervision
A sheet of construction paper
A piece of string or yarn
A towel or cloth
Hot water tap
A freezer nearby.
Smog: Let’s make it!!!
Step 1: Rinse both jars and dry them carefully.
Step2: Place one jar into the freezer for 15 minutes.
Step3.
Just before removing the jar from the freezer, rinse the other jar under HOT water. Only allow
the water to go over the outside of the jar. Pot holders and adult supervision are recommended.
Step 4: Immediately after rinsing the outside of the jar with hot water, remove the 1st jar from the freezer.
Wipe the cold jar dry as water will begin to condense on the glass.
Step 5: Place the warm jar on the table, place the construction paper over the mouth of the jar. Place
the cold jar directly over it. Mouth to Mouth.
Step 6: Carefully have an adult helper light a match and ignite the end of your string.
As soon as it
starts to burn, blow it out.
Step 7:
Place the smoking string into the warm jar. When the jar fills with smoke, remove the string and
the construction paper that separates the two jars. Allow the warm and cold air to blend.
Step 8:
What’s Happening and Why? Take a moment to write down your thoughts and observations.
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Step9: Repeat this experiment several times.
However, the next time, place the cold jar on the bottom.
**Develop a hypothesis. What do you think will happen this time?
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____________________________.
Step 10: So, How did the Smog react?
Was it what you expected. Why or Why not?
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____________________________.
FOG:
HOW DO WE SPOT IT?
How do Fog and Smog Form? This is a good question.
Fog forms when the air
temperature drops low enough for water vapor to condense. This is commonly called the
“Dew Point”. You don’t need to understand all of these details, but it’s a good rule of thumb. Just realize that
when the air cools to this temperature, fog could form. Now, here’s the catch. If the dewpoint reaches within 5
degrees of the air temperature and the air continues to get colder, fog can form. This is the general rule that
pilots use for flying. Remember, Smog is simply a “smokey fog”.
When does Fog normally develop?
Surprising to many, Fog is most likely to
form at night. The coolest part of the day and the lowest temperatures are usually around dawn. The problem
with fog, is that is lingers…sticks around. So, many people believe that fog forms in the morning. Fog is also
most likely to form in low places like valleys first.
Can we get Fog in the winter?
Yes, we can develop Fog in the winter. In fact, in
Rochester it’s quite possible and even probable. Here’s why? When the ground is covered with snow, the
ground temperature is low. If we have warm air blow in from the lake, the humid warm air is rapidly cooled;
bringing the air to its dewpoint. When the temperatures of these two bodies of air collide, the temperatures
change quickly, condensation builds and the result is fog.
Where can I learn more about Fog and Smog?
The following
websites are great resources if you’d like to do further investigation about smog or fog. Many of them have
similar experiments to the one you’ve just tried.
http://www.weathernotebook.org/transcripts/1998/12/04.html
http://www.aqmd.gov/monthly/health.html
http://www.asthmacure.com
http://www.rcn27.dial.pipex.com/cloudsrus/mistnfog.html
I hope you’ve enjoyed this issue of FAQ’S from BUBL and will continue to explore how our “little” Great Lake
effects our community.
Hope to see you at the BUBL™
Commander Robson