How would a hot car with the windows rolled up, be affected by the greenhouse effect?

Question

I need to write a report on this for my science class and I have no idea what goes on in the hot car (besides getting hot) that HAS TO DO WITH the greenhouse effect. Could anyone give me ideas? Thanks.

By the way, I need two reasons why this is dangerous. I can't even think of one =( =( =(

Answer 1

as you know, a greenhouse is made of GLASS and that causes the green house effect. When you have a magnifying glass, and you put it over a bug on a sunny day, you kill it bc you are making the bug 5x as hot as it is. when light comes on a piece of glass, it is arranged in a way that all the light becomes heat. so the car with windows rolled up, goes throught the greenhouse effect when this happens and becomes very HOT!

Answer 2

It is an example of how the greenhouse effect works. Short wavelength energy from the sun (like visible light) can pass easily through glass. It is absorbed by the things inside the car and then re-radiated back. But, the energy is re-radiated as long wavelength infrared energy which we feel as heat. Long wavelength energy can not pass through glass so the heat is trapped inside the car.

Here's a good site that explains it:
http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/thermo/grnhse.html


This is dangerous because the heat rises inside the car fairly quickly. It can get to over 120 degrees in the car! That's enough to kill small children or pets that are left inside the car while someone goes into the store to shop for example. It happens every year.

Answer 3

The energy from the Sun warms the body of the car and enters through the closed windows. The warm air inside the car cannot escape because the windows are closed.
More than a greenhouse it behaves more as a solar oven!

Answer 4

If you get a hose pipe from the exaust and place the other end in the car, then you can experience the a full on green house effect.

Reasons why this would be dangerous-
1. You will get carbon monoxied and carbon dioxide poisoning and die.
2. You will poop you pants when your dead.