Anything that raises the temperature of an object is heating the object.

Rays are straight lines with arrowheads, drawn to represent light.

An angle measures the difference between two directions, in degrees.

A thermometer is used to measure temperature in degrees Celsius.

Heating by the Sun

Science

In the Gravity in space unit, they will build on this knowledge to learn to how gravitational forces cause orbital motion and about stellar evolution and cosmology, including red-shift and the big bang. 

In primary science, pupils learnt about the cause of day and night, the movement of the Earth orbiting the Sun and the Moon orbiting the Earth, and about stars and planets we can see in the night sky.

Our solar system and beyond

Physical activity and equipment requiring safe use

heating a surface from directly overhead ('face-on')

Which produces the greatest heating effect?

Starting with sunrise, put these positions that the Sun appears in the sky (from the UK) into the order they occur during a day.

the heating effect from the Sun is the same at the different times of day

The picture shows the path of the Sun across the sky during one day at a beach. A towel is laid out across the ground. At which point in the day is the towel heated most strongly by the Sun?

the rays are more spread out over the surface when the surface is 'face-on'

the rays are less spread out over the surface when the surface is 'face-on'

when the surface is at an angle less heat will be absorbed

tilting the surface away means fewer rays hit the same area of the surface

when the surface is 'face on' more heat will be absorbed

Why is heating a surface from directly overhead (or ‘face-on’) more effective than heating a surface at a different angle?

A place is closer to the Sun at noon than at sunrise, due to Earth's spin.

The Sun is hotter at noon than at sunrise.

A place is more face-on to the Sun at noon than at sunrise, due to Earth's spin.

The Sun is higher in the sky at noon so it is further from Earth then.

What is the correct reason why the heating effect of the Sun is greater at midday/noon than at sunrise?

the distance between the centre of the card and the heater

Izzy is investigating how the heating angle affects the temperature rise of a card in two minutes. Match the variables in this investigation.

Which two of these astronomical objects give off light (are luminous)?

What causes a parked car to heat up to a higher temperature than its surroundings on a sunny day?

Which of these days in the northern hemisphere (e.g. in London) has most hours of daylight?

Put these planets in order of how bright the sun appears from each one. Start with the one where the sun appears brightest.

Put these planets in order of their average temperature, starting with the hottest.

Which of these cars would be the hottest? Apart from colour, the cars are identical.

Content guidance

Risk assessment required - equipment

Adult supervision required

This lesson will be removed by end of Summer Term 2025.

Heating by the Sun

Lesson outcome

Content guidance

This lesson will be removed by end of Summer Term 2025.