Re: [Phys-l] Thermal mass

[brian whatcott <betwys1@sbcglobal.net>]

It's a pity that none of your pointers seemed functional. We have a 
school house at Duke - within ten miles - that is an Earth-insulated 
design - and this seems to work pretty well, as far as I have heard.

The idea of limiting the thermally conductive paths to the variable 
ambient, and interposing thermal mass
(mass times specific heat) for irradiation at the preferred temperature: 
a southern day exposure when solar heating is desired, a night  exposure 
when cooling is wanted, along with passive or active ways of sharing 
this resource with the inhabited volume.  I suppose nucleaar 
infiltration is a concern...

Brian W

On 4/23/2011 8:00 AM, Dr Holly Priestley wrote:
> Good morning.
>
> I have a favor to ask of members of the list.  I am on the education
> committee of Silver Lake Nature Center, Bristol, PA.
>
> http://www.silverlakenaturecenter.org/
>
> - I am not sure if this is the newest website or not - it appears to be but
> events are dated.
>
>
>
> The Nature Center has received a grant to build an Earthship (house) for a
> new education building as well as a model for teaching about Earthship
> technology.  This will be the first Earthship on the East coast.
>
> http://www.silverlakenaturecenter.org/index.php?option=com_content
> <http://www.silverlakenaturecenter.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=art
> icle&id=177&Itemid=280>  &view=article&id=177&Itemid=280
>
> (info on their Earthship)
>
>
>
> http://www.earthship.org/  Earthship information in general (in case you
> have no idea about Earthships)
>
>
>
> For our next meeting we are asked to try and find laboratory experience/s
> that deal with thermal mass that could be used in teaching about an
> Earthship.  (i.e. how an Earthship keeps a constant internal temperature).
> The target audience is JR-HS and HS levels.
>
>
>
> Hubby teaches physics and is helping me search for such a lab.  I've tried
> searching on line and found several demonstrations but they may be too
> complicated for the level needed, space (and money) available.
>
>
>
> If you know of any laboratory experiences, please contact me personally or
> through the list.  Also, please feel free to cross post to other lists.
>
> Thank you so much -
>
> Holly Priestley, EdD
>
>
>
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