Virtual Lab

Greenhouse Effect © Explore Learning


Background Information:

This lesson has talked about the greenhouse effect and how greenhouse gases play a part in that effect. It also talked about how human activities are increasing the amount of those greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. This Gizmo will help you see what happens as the percentage of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere increases.

Please note: if you scroll down while in the Gizmo you will see a list of questions. You DO NOT need to complete these questions. You are able to complete them for extra practice if you would like.
An assessment question is based on this activity!


  1. Open the Gizmo by clicking on the play button. Print students can access the Gizmo in the Online Resources for Print Students section of their online course.
  1. Change to the “GRAPH” tab found on the far right side of the Gizmo.
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D7.25 Graph tab

  1. Ensure that the greenhouse gas percentage is set to 10%.
  2. Click on the play button and watch what happens on the graph.
  3. Once you have seen a pattern emerge, click the pause button.
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D7.26 Greenhouse gases percent

  1. Take a screenshot of the pattern you see by clicking on the camera seen on in the upper right-hand corner of the graph.
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D7.26a Camera icon

  1. Increase the percentage of greenhouse gases to 50%.
  2. Click the play button and watch what happens to the graph.
  3. Once a pattern emerges, click the pause button and take another screenshot of the graph for your notes.
  4. Increase the percentage of greenhouse gases to 90%.  Use the camera icon to take a screenshot for 4.5 Assignment.  Right click and save to a location you will remember.
  5. Repeat steps 8 to 10.
  6. Please return to the top of this page and click on analysis to complete the analysis questions.
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D7.27 How to read the graph

  1. Compare the Hout line on the three graphs you generated. What happened to the line when you increased the greenhouse gases in the atmosphere? Why does this happen?

    The Hout line on the graph decreases when you increase the greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. This happens because the greenhouse gases trap the thermal energy trying to escape to space and reflect it back down to Earth’s surface. The more greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, the more thermal energy that ends up trapped near Earth’s surface.
  2. Compare the temperature line in the three graphs you generated. What happens to the temperature as you increase the greenhouse gas percentage? Why does this happen?

    You will answer this question in Formative Assessment D3.
  3. Compare the Hin line in the three graphs you generated. Why does the Hin graph not change?

    The Hin is the solar radiation from the sun. It does not change because the sun and the amount of radiation Earth receives from the sun are not changing. It is only how Earth is dealing with that solar radiation that is changing.
  4. How is the greenhouse effect similar to the way the sun heats up an agricultural greenhouse? How is it different?

    In both the greenhouse effect and a greenhouse, the solar radiation is being absorbed by plants and soil and then being re-emitted as thermal energy. In both cases, that thermal energy is then trapped by the glass or the greenhouse gases. In a greenhouse, the glass reflects all the heat back into the greenhouse, keeping it warm. In the greenhouse effect, the greenhouse gases absorb the thermal energy and reflect some if it back toward Earth’s surface. In the greenhouse effect, it is also more than just the plants and the soil that absorb the solar radiation. It is also absorbed by the atmosphere, the hydrosphere, the animals, and the lithosphere.