Infrared radiation practical graphs
The infrared radiation required practical produces two graphs, a surface heating under a lamp until it reaches equilibrium, and a hot object cooling to room temperatue. The graph builder draws both for matt black, matt white and shiny silver, with the lamp distance and the object as variables, so the class compares real curves instead of a sketch.
A hand-built replica of the real builder page, not a screenshot. Every control shown exists in the product.
Part of the Graph builder family. See Half life graphs, Velocity time graphs, IV characteristic graphs and Distance time graphs pages to explore further.
Why this works in Physics
The heating graph above shows the three surfaces climbing from room temperature and flattening as each reaches the point where it emits as fast as it absorbs, one of the concepts often misunderstood by puils. Maybe your heat lamp bulbs have broken, or time is too short for the required practical, but you can produce accurate graphs with graph builder that pose as useful discussion points, or even end of topic exam questions.
The cooling graph reverses it, and this is where pupils trip. They expect the black surface to stay hot because it absorbed the most, and instead it cools fastest because a good absorber is a good emitter. Two curves from the same starting temperature make that visible in one glance, and the crosses at every minute are the readings a pupil would take.
Infrared practical graphs, heating and cooling
Every image here is free to use in your teaching under our image licence.
Three surfaces heating under the same lamp, each levelling off where it emits as fast as it absorbs.Download image, Three surfaces heating under the same lamp, each levelling off where it emits as fast as it absorbs. 
Matt black cools fastest, because a good absorber of infrared is also a good emitter.Download image, Matt black cools fastest, because a good absorber of infrared is also a good emitter. 
The same comparison as a bar chart, matt black reaching the highest temperature.Download image, The same comparison as a bar chart, matt black reaching the highest temperature.
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